G
gabriel22a
Guest
Quite true. Male attention is easy. Make-up is a turnoff to a lot of men. Does this mean not wearing make-up in a world of make-up wearers is an intentional attempt to attract a peacock–sorry, I mean, a man?
- Status
L
LilyM
Guest
Speaking about peacocks - they certainly don’t wear their colours in their face, but in their tail plumage. A clear sign that wearing colourful clothes is only ever done to attract a mate.
Moreover it’s only the males who wear the colourful plumage, not the females - so according to the Book of Budgie for men to wear colourful clothing must be of the devil, since it can only possibly mean they’re doing it to attract mates, whereas for women colorful clothing is fine :whacky:
G
gabriel22a
Guest
You are hysterical!Speaking about peacocks - they certainly don’t wear their colours in their face, but in their tail plumage. A clear sign that wearing colourful clothes is only ever done to attract a mate.
Moreover it’s only the males who wear the colourful plumage, not the females - so according to the Book of Budgie for men to wear colourful clothing must be of the devil, since it can only possibly mean they’re doing it to attract mates, whereas for women colorful clothing is fine :whacky:
Good point–actually in the animal world, it seems to be the male of the species who are more beautiful. But this could lend itself to another verse in the B. of Budgie–female animals do not feel the need to enhance their beauty. Why should we? Do we think we are better than animals?
Sorry–but it sometimes feels better to laugh. What can you do? Back to work on my theology of the sin of not wearing make-up… (Your contributions may be famous someday, if I have your permission to quote you.)
L
LilyM
Guest
Quote away … meanwhile I’ve just remembered I’ve got to go paint my backside red like a baboon’s, since that’s how THEY attract mates and quite clearly we ARE no better than animals …
G
gabriel22a
Guest
Thanks–and good luck! Don’t forget to check out that link on painting–I’m sure it’s chock full of great information. On my way to Mass now–not sure if sarcasm is a sin…Quote away … meanwhile I’ve just remembered I’ve got to go paint my backside red like a baboon’s, since that’s how THEY attract mates and quite clearly we ARE no better than animals …
S
Sabda
Guest
:tsktsk:
That was not very Christian like. The men for the most part have stayed completely out of this thread so why are you calling them names?
L
LilyM
Guest
I’ve just been reading ‘City of God’ by St Augustine - he had quite the sarcastic turn of phrase at times, so if it’s a sin we’re in good company.
G
gardenswithkids
Guest
This thread began asking about not only make-up but also vanity. I wonder who is more vain–the woman who wears make-up because she feels she is unattractive without it or the woman who thinks she’s so naturally beautiful that she doesn’t “need” make-up?
Not to judge the motives of anyone in particular, but might a vain woman who is naturally beautiful (on the surface) possible want to encourage other women less attractive not to wear make-up? Might not also a vain woman who did abuse make-up for the purposes of attracting male attention think that the only reason for wearing make-up involve bad motives?
And…might not a female peacock (peahen?) be sadly disappointed to learn that the mate who attracted her with his lovely plumage now refuses to ever put that lovely plumage on display for her again. Pity the husband whose wife attracts him with both looks and personality, only to discover that she later considers it a sin to try to look attractive for him with modest use of make-up.
Not to judge the motives of anyone in particular, but might a vain woman who is naturally beautiful (on the surface) possible want to encourage other women less attractive not to wear make-up? Might not also a vain woman who did abuse make-up for the purposes of attracting male attention think that the only reason for wearing make-up involve bad motives?
And…might not a female peacock (peahen?) be sadly disappointed to learn that the mate who attracted her with his lovely plumage now refuses to ever put that lovely plumage on display for her again. Pity the husband whose wife attracts him with both looks and personality, only to discover that she later considers it a sin to try to look attractive for him with modest use of make-up.
S
Sabda
Guest
I can’t speak for others but I disagree. I went from thinking I had to wear makeup to not wearing any of it. What started me down that road was pure laziness. When I was in college I got tired of putting it on before class everyday. I didn’t stop wearing makeup because of some perceived sin or because I thought I looked better without it. It was simply plain old laziness. It’s been my experience that the women who wear makeup are the ones trying to get those of who don’t wear makeup to wear it. Would I look better with makeup? Certainly, I know I would, to me anyway. Does that mean I’m going to start wearing makeup again? No I won’t.
Personally, I don’t see the peacock being a good image to use here. I really don’t think there is any animal that you could really use in this scenario. The male peacock does not put his feathers on. His feathers are a natural part of who he is. You could say they are his “hair”. A woman who wears makeup can not say the same thing. Makeup is not a natural part of who a woman is. It’s an extra that she puts on.
G
gardenswithkids
Guest
People have various reasons for wearing or not wearing make-up. I didn’t intend to suggest in my post those were the only two options for what motivates people, (just as I don’t like the assumption that all women who wear make-up to be vain and trying to attract inappropriate male attention.) I intended to show that the motives of the heart cannot be known simply by looking at someone.
Wear make-up or do not, as you wish–neither is a sin. Sin is less about what’s on our face and more about what’s in our hearts.
G
gardenswithkids
Guest
The peacock image was introduced earlier by someone who compared make-up wearers to animals and their mating rituals. I don’t think its a particularly good image either, (especially since it’s generally the male birds with all the fancy plumage while the females camaflouge back in their nests.)
G
gabriel22a
Guest
Sorry you missed the joke. I did not call men peacocks. It was a reference to a previous post with a link to bird-mating. I meant exactly the opposite–we are not animals. Men are not peacocks and women are not peahens. Lily, who I was responding to, if you would read the thread, understood. Actually reading the thread may benefit you–as you bring up many things already addressed. But it’s interesting to hear your story on why you don’t wear makeup.
Maybe sarcasm is a sin–if even at its lightest it causes people to accuse you of an even greater sin–calling men peacocks.
G
gabriel22a
Guest
You disagree with…what? I don’t care if you wear makeup. Let’s get one thing straight–the peacock reference was a JOKE. And just in case–the red-bottomed baboon post was a joke, too.
And natural women put on many things–clothes, undergarments, hairspray, barrettes, hats, etc… Thank goodness. If you read this thread, the “make-up wearers” are asking not be judged for it and are not judging those who don’t wear make-up. On the other hand, the non-make-up wearers are making up a theology to judge it and have even stooped to calling make-up a venial sin. Not vanity, mind you, but make-up.
The sin of vanity, originally questioned, has been swallowed up by the sin of Revlon. Somebody needs to laugh here–it’s too ridiculous.
S
Sabda
Guest
I have read this whole thread from the very beginning. Gardenswithkids is the one who went back to the original question. I do agree that some of it is quite frankly laughable, from both sides of the issue. I went back and reread your post for probable the fifth time now and it still has me shaking my head. It’s in the way you presented it. It doesn’t come off very well.
G
gabriel22a
Guest
I’m sorry you didn’t get it–the person I addressed it to did. If you were offended, again I apologize. But now that you know I wasn’t calling men peacocks and can apparently read things in context, maybe you will forgive me.
S
Sabda
Guest
I do find it interesting that so many of the women on here who wear makeup are getting so defensive. I NEVER said that wearing makeup was a sin. I just simply stated that it really isn’t necessary. Exactly in the same sense that nail polish is not necessary. And yes I do wear nail polish.
G
gabriel22a
Guest
I never accused you of saying that. I didn’t accuse you of anything. Your post explained why you don’t wear make-up. It was your other post that accused me of being un-Christian when you read my post out of context. I apologized that you were offended by what you perceived to be name-calling. I don’t want this to disintegrate further.
As for being defensive, I believe it is a natural reaction to being judged for a morally neutral act.
S
Sarabande
Guest
Wow! This thread has been quite interesting to read.
Almost all the women I know personally and from many of the women on the this thread, they do not wear make-up to attract men. (Actually, I just remembered a news story regarding women in Afghanistan who would sneak out to put make-up on each other and do their hair underneath their bourkas. They certainly were not doing it to attract attention from men since the only people who’d see them were the women in that room.)
What seems to me is that those who do have a major problem with others wearing makeup either on this thread or in everyday life (I’m NOT talking about women who personally choose to not wear makeup for their own reasons and are not judging others who do) might actually have a vanity issue themselves and are transferring their problems and insecurities on others. It is true that there may be some women who are too vain about themselves or are very insecure about their looks and wear makeup because of that, but I think the majority of women aren’t into makeup for those reasons. Most don’t even wear a lot of makeup.
For the OP, only you can answer the question yourself after prayer and reflection. I don’t know you personally, so I can’t give you a personal answer. Just ask yourself why you are wearing makeup. Be honest about it and you’ll get an honest answer from yourself and God.
Also, for the record, although most men do not wear makeup, I have come across a few who do as well as get their nails done (and they were straight and, no, they weren’t on the stage performing). Funny thing is those particular men tended to be kind of like tough guys in the city and it blew me away to see them wearing a little makeup or sitting in the nail salons. I also met a lot of men who used lotion to keep their hands and arms soft and supple. Again, totally straight men.
So true. Some days I wear makeup. Other days I don’t. When I wear makeup, it’s definitely not to draw attention from men. I wear it for myself. Most people don’t even realize I’m wearing makeup. The only time I wear heavy makeup is when I’m on the stage and performing. From far away in the audience you look normal. Up close - really scary - especially the men. haha! I can’t stand the feel of heavy makeup, nor do I like the look of it in real life.
Almost all the women I know personally and from many of the women on the this thread, they do not wear make-up to attract men. (Actually, I just remembered a news story regarding women in Afghanistan who would sneak out to put make-up on each other and do their hair underneath their bourkas. They certainly were not doing it to attract attention from men since the only people who’d see them were the women in that room.)
What seems to me is that those who do have a major problem with others wearing makeup either on this thread or in everyday life (I’m NOT talking about women who personally choose to not wear makeup for their own reasons and are not judging others who do) might actually have a vanity issue themselves and are transferring their problems and insecurities on others. It is true that there may be some women who are too vain about themselves or are very insecure about their looks and wear makeup because of that, but I think the majority of women aren’t into makeup for those reasons. Most don’t even wear a lot of makeup.
For the OP, only you can answer the question yourself after prayer and reflection. I don’t know you personally, so I can’t give you a personal answer. Just ask yourself why you are wearing makeup. Be honest about it and you’ll get an honest answer from yourself and God.
Also, for the record, although most men do not wear makeup, I have come across a few who do as well as get their nails done (and they were straight and, no, they weren’t on the stage performing). Funny thing is those particular men tended to be kind of like tough guys in the city and it blew me away to see them wearing a little makeup or sitting in the nail salons. I also met a lot of men who used lotion to keep their hands and arms soft and supple. Again, totally straight men.
G
gabriel22a
Guest
I think you have very satisfactorily summed up this thread. And without my troublesome sarcasm and righteous indignation. Good for you. I hope I can be more like you when responding, because right now a haze of frustration at the lack of communication frustrates me. God bless you!
L
lizaanne
Guest
Sarabande is always like that - she always has a way of addressing a very divisive topic with grace. I’ve always admired that about her - it is truly something I aspire to.
~Liza
- Status