July 14, 2015

"Three months ago, I began posting images of myself without makeup on social media."

"The following film contains real comments that were left on images of my face."



Via Metafilter, where somebody says:
I'm really not trying to say that men with acne don't suffer; however, the abuse shown in the video IS heavily gendered. All of that horrible shit about "never trusting a b*tch with makeup" and "have some dignity sl*t" is very specifically a thing that women have to deal with and men do not.

Although of course women are expected to cover it up,

And then be excoriated as liars and deceivers and whores by the same men who demanded they cover it with makeup in the first place.

There is absolutely a strain in U.S. culture, at least, which says that a woman in literally any state of existence is fundamentally horrifying and wrong.
To be fair, there is a huge middle ground between absolutely no makeup and theatrically heavy makeup. Only foundation was needed to even out the skin tone. The penciled eyebrows, false eyelashes, and "contouring" have nothing to do with hiding acne. But I do think the insults mean something. The Metafilter commenter calls them "heavily gendered," but, interestingly, we can't tell if they are coming from men or women. If from men, they ought to examine why they feel attracted to a look they know is a mask. Why get mad at women for walking through a well-known open door? If the insults are from women (heterosexual women), then what's is it — some screwy demand for a level-playing-field competition?

Somebody else at Metafilter links to this Amy Schumer video:

102 comments:

Scott said...

Some people think they are fascinating, don't they.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

There is absolutely a strain in U.S. culture, at least, which says that a woman in literally any state of existence is fundamentally horrifying and wrong.

Lucky for us guys there is no corresponding strain regarding men.

Roughcoat said...

Only the second post, and Ignorance is Bliss wins.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

There are nasty, cruel people in the world. They will attack with whatever weapon works. If women face more heavily gendered attacks, it is only because those attacks work on women.

Or because those women are, in fact, whores.

great Unknown said...

It's interesting how many women's self-respect hinges on their makeup - although, as you pointed out, they realize it's a mask.

See, e.g., some of the comments by the protagonists of this article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2291621/The-face-porn--make-Adult-movie-stars-brave-camera-shiny-skin-pimples--incredible-transformations.html

Roughcoat said...

Why get mad at women for walking through a well-known open door?

Say the same for men wearing shorts.

Expat(ish) said...

Interesting. I dated a woman with some pretty severe skin problems and sometimes she'd wear makeup and sometimes not, though she always took it off to come to bed. I just didn't think of if very much, and since I'd never had skin issues (good genes, not care, I assure you) I didn't really have much to say about it.

Maybe society has just changed a lot with way too much introspection.

-XC

Bob Ellison said...

Thanks for the link to that Amy Schumer song. I lost it at "lots and lots of make-up".

traditionalguy said...

Schemer is a very talented woman. Brains are beautiful to the observer of personality under the masks we wear.

MadisonMan said...

Apparently the woman never read Lord of the Flies.

rhhardin said...

Women look better without makeup. Also they get ready much faster.

traditionalguy said...

Women are.actually attractive in an earthy way without make up. The designer of women did a good job without social status badges of make up,added to display wealth and servants.

SGT Ted said...

Oh the latest female whine. How boring.

Ann Althouse said...

"'Why get mad at women for walking through a well-known open door?' Say the same for men wearing shorts."

It's not analogous.

Some men were (apparently) getting mad at a woman for using fakery to appeal to men, and I said that the men in question should look to their own feeling of attraction to what is in fact fakery. The women are only using something they know works in a competition they want to win.

In the case of what I've said about men in shorts. First, I'm not mad and I'm not saying the men are bad people for wearing shorts. Second, I'm not revealing my attraction for men in shorts! Third, it's not a situation where men are using something they know works to attract women. It's the opposite! I'm honestly pointing out a fashion choice that has the effect of desexualizing me and making them less attractive.

It would be an analogy if the men were saying to the woman, you're not very appealing when you let your acne be completely visible. I wish you'd cover it up with some foundation. You'd look much better.

Brando said...

If straight men believed tomorrow that wearing makeup would improve their chances with women, they'd start wearing makeup. So all this proves is that women either wear makeup for their own self esteem, or to please other women, or because women believe men prefer them in makeup.

What none of this proves is that men are shaming women into wearing makeup any more than women shame men into not wearing shorts or fanny packs or socks with sandals.

But it's nice to see some activists with chips on their shoulders trying to turn everything into an event in the Oppression Olympics.

You wanna take off your makeup? Knock yourself out. You want to post photos of yourself online when you do it? Be my guest. You want to get upset when some anonymous commenters say mean things about you online? Welcome to the Internet, you must be new here.

pm317 said...

This reminds me of a conversation at a dinner party and a few years before I came to this country. A Math PhD had recently returned to India for good from the US and one of the things she said was that Americans don't like facial hair on women -- you get treated differently if you sport a 'natural' look she said, and with us Indian women, it is always a hassle. She was here in the early 80s and she was a stuck up b****h.

Now, my MiL is visiting for a short while and she is past 80. She rocks a mustache like no man and I do see some sniggering when we take her out and about;

and few glares too (to which I want to say, she is not a freeloader and will not take your SS and live here. She is going back and is well taken care of back home).

Brando said...

"First, I'm not mad and I'm not saying the men are bad people for wearing shorts."

Hey, some of my best friends wear shorts! I just wouldn't want them to move in next door. They prefer to be among their own kind.

Roughcoat said...

Some women look good without makeup, some look good with makeup. Most look better with a bit of makeup: I like it when women get all dolled up and that includes judiciously applied makeup (e.g., not too much, not pancake, etc). I get the impression from the women I know that they like getting dolled up too and that includes makeup. But, bottom line, I just like it when they look good and I don't care how they get there. Profound, ain't I.

Ann Althouse said...

I know some of the commenters in the video were only saying (in a very mean way) that the acne should be covered up, but that's not the context of my statement "Why get mad at women for walking through a well-known open door?" That was in the context of about the men that got upset about women wearing a heavy makeup mask.

Laslo Spatula said...

Will she post video showing how she has gone without anal bleaching?

I am Laslo.

Emil Blatz said...

Outside of the courtroom, I'm still wearing shorts!

Roughcoat said...

It's not analogous.

I know. Just goofing around. Throwing a firecracker into the discussion, as it were. Not important. I sincerely doubt that anything I might say in this thread should be taken seriously.

Roughcoat said...

I'm wearing shorts now.

pm317 said...

I think it is a liberal woman who thinks she is a better person for not wearing make-up. Uglier the more liberal.

Bob R said...

Megan McArdle has had some interesting thoughts on the differences between the comments/treatment that men and women get on the internet. She mentioned them again yesterday in a post about Pao. One challenge she laid out was to compare the comments of similar female and male authors. She mentioned Amanda Marcotte, and the comparable male that came to mind was Jonathan Chait. I think Chait is equally dishonest and loathsome, but the comments I read about Marcotte are definitely directed more at her gender, so probably more personal. And I have to admit that I regard Marcotte with more distaste than I do Chait, though I can't really give a rational reason for it.

Rick said...

That a tiny fraction of people make rude comments with just about any provocation doesn't show you're oppressed. It'd be great if every single person in the world was a nice person, but they aren't and they're never going to be. Is this a big issue? Do we think most people, or more importantly for the victim hierarchy most men, say or think these things? So let's quit whining about it as if it's meaningful.

But it's nice to see some activists with chips on their shoulders trying to turn everything into an event in the Oppression Olympics.

pm317 said...

Instagram, women on women, Serena Williams' eyebrows

SeanF said...

And then be excoriated as liars and deceivers and whores by the same men who demanded they cover it with makeup in the first place.

What's the basis for the claim that it is the same men in both cases, I wonder?

Brando said...

"I think Chait is equally dishonest and loathsome, but the comments I read about Marcotte are definitely directed more at her gender, so probably more personal"

Maybe I don't read Chait enough, but I think what grates people more about Marcotte is not her gender, but her hackish, cheap pundit style. She assumes things not in evidence, makes sweeping straw man arguments, and shows an amazing ability to not even understand opposing viewpoints. Many pundits do this, of course, but she's a particularly bad offender.

As for why so many of her commenters make gender-based insults? Laziness, I suppose--they go with it because they think it will sting the most. Distasteful as that is, they're better off ignored. There are plenty of reasons to take issue with Marcotte's writing and her gender is not one of them.

McCardle is one of my favorites though--everything that Marcotte isn't.

Unknown said...

"...choice that has the effect of desexualizing me and making them less attractive."

How does that work? If you are not attracted to men in shorts then you are less sexual? I can see that. Less of a sex object? That makes sense in a tit-for-tat way. Kind of. I'm intrigued.

Bob Ellison said...

McArdle is on my short "must-read" list (more like a "must-at-least-skim list"), along with Krauthammer and a few WSJ writers behind the paywall (so I don't read them).

David said...

Another very beautiful woman has found a slightly unusual way to get attention for her beauty. This woman won a genetic lottery and she's unhappy with it?

rhhardin said...

Google porn stars without makeup, pick a reputable site, and see if the without makeup pics aren't always better. SFW.

Laslo Spatula said...

Notice the framing of the video. Supposedly it is about her face, yet the picture captures her teeny top straps, the corresponding lack of bra straps, and her breasts beneath flimsy fabric.

It is obvious by this that -- regardless of make-up or not -- she wants to still be seen as sexy, and is using her body to do so.

I suspect the average male looks at her face, says "Still cute" and then immediately tries to picture what her naked breasts look like. She knows this, and is using it to her advantage, even if it undermines her part of her point -- she is deliberately dressing for the male gaze.

Chew on that, Althouse.

I am Laslo.

Cynicus said...

I don't wear makeup unless I'm upset and trying to hide it, or I'm going somewhere special or going to court. I particularly hate eye makeup. Eyes are for reading . The whole makeup industry seems designed to create needs for more product. Clog your pores with foundation then use product to clean out the pores, then use moisturizer to soften dry skin, moisturizer then drys out the skin so you need more moisturizer. Skip the makeup, drink water, eat a healthy diet with lots of eggs. You will have better skin than most women with a beauty regime.

n.n said...

We strive to present ourselves in the best light. Obviously, it should stop short of obsessive behavior and personal corruption.

David said...

" If from men, they ought to examine why they feel attracted to a look they know is a mask."

It's not a mask, it's a filter. This woman has a face that perfectly fits the current conception of female beauty. With makeup she is filtering the normal flaws that would distract attention from her near perfect beauty. She is beautiful without the makeup, but without makeup attention is drawn to aspects of her face that do not present the beauty in its best light. How is this any different than washing her face or hair or putting on deodorant? She is not masking her face. She placing it in a good light (quite literally) and revealing her beauty. There is no confusion about who or what she is--a beautiful woman displaying her face. This is true whether she is displaying it with or without the makeup.

As to the men making the churlish comments, they will never be successful with a woman like her. Deal with it, boys.

David said...

And, as Lazlo properly observes, she is displaying more than her face.

I said this mostly because I wanted to use the word "properly" in connection with Lazlo.

damikesc said...

Lucky for us guys there is no corresponding strain regarding men.

Indeed. Imagine having to go through life assumed to be a potential rapist or pedophile at all times. We dudes have it so easy...

Some men were (apparently) getting mad at a woman for using fakery to appeal to men, and I said that the men in question should look to their own feeling of attraction to what is in fact fakery. The women are only using something they know works in a competition they want to win.

Are, say, Pick-Up Artists bad people? They do the same thing, after all.

Reality: Women dress up to impress other women, not men. Women are far harsher than men.

pdug said...

Andrew Sullivan has from time to time made fellatio references to male pols he's criticizing. Seems gendered to me.

pdug said...

The Amy Schumer video is another one where the humor sucks (gendered reference?)


Like, do guys who actually say that to women really ever pull back and reverse their advice with any regularity?

Or is it just, as in many things, a case of "mixed messages" that society is telling us because, lo and behold, society is made up of lots of individuals with diverse messages?

Wince said...

Let's face it, most people with acne would be content with a cure for their acne rather than a cure for acne.

And this may provide some insight into those comments:

Statins May Up Aggression in Women, Lower It in Men

And this...

Why your pills may be making you angry: As statins are linked to aggression in women, the mood-altering side-effects of everyday medicines

When you take a commonly prescribed drug for a physical condition such as high cholesterol, asthma or acne, or even the birth control Pill, you may be alert for signs of physical side-effects. But such medicines can harbour a more insidious danger: they may make you aggressive, violently jealous, suicidal or even homicidal. This little understood threat was highlighted this month when researchers found that taking statins to lower cholesterol and prevent heart problems can make some women aggressive and violent, reports the authoritative science journal PLOS ONE.

rhhardin said...

Lucy: So tell me. What's the matter with me?

George: Well, you can be somewhat intimidating. You could loosed up a little, get in tough with your feminine side.

Lucy: Okay, that's a good suggestion.

George: Perhaps soften your appearance. Not that I don't love that look, but you could get dolled up occasionally.

Lucy: I'm not going to spend hours fluffing my hair and applying animal-tested makeup to my face just so I can turn myself into some male fantasy, degrading Kewpie doll. Unless I, you know, really like the guy or something.

George: You see, maybe that's the problem. You don't like these guys. They're wrong for you.

Two Weeks Notice, Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock

buwaya said...

The internet is the work of the devil.
Sin is a habit, that is reinforced, intensified, and engraved on ones character through practice. It's the opposite of practicing the habits of virtue.
The internet makes the practice of sin easier. I don't see that it helps the practice of virtue.
The ability to express anonymous hate and contempt is just one of those things that aid sin.

jr565 said...

Hey lady, Bruce Jenner has to put up with this crap all the time too. Without makeup he looks like an old man and not a beautiful woman.

jr565 said...

In this particular case if she previously covered her acne up with makeup I would probably say she looked better without the acne showing, most people do. Men have to deal with acne too. And it's not socially acceptable for guys to cover it up with mascara. So if guys are pizza faces they have to deal with it. Girls will certainly judge them for it. Whole industries are created to deal with the problem.
There a separate question then about covering up your face with makeup if you don't have acne versus if you do. And many might be judging her natural looks because when she covered up her acne it looked like she didn't have it.

cubanbob said...

Lovely girl. If she hasn't done so by now she ought to find a good dermatologist and facialist. All the same the film itself is a bit dishonest. The lighting and photography and facial expressions are such to draw attention to her acne and enhance it. Under normal lighting and without closeup photography her acne wouldn't be that noticeable. All in all, contrived.

As for the guys making the stupid and nasty comments, they are simply demonstrating just how stupid and nasty they are. As if a man can't tell a woman isn't made up. Really? Those clowns making the comments are the ones who never get any unless they openly pay for it and even then with make up the woman they get are still less attractive than this girl.

jr565 said...

The question is less, does she need make up but, rather, does she need Proactiv. And I would say that she does. Not acne shaming her, mind you. But she has acne.

jr565 said...

Cubsnbob, but all guys have been in the situation where they went home with a beautiful girl. They woke up the next day and she was absent makeup and she was nowhere near as beautiful. Some girls need makeup to be more than plain Janes. Some are hot without any makeup.

T said...

I don't get it.

If a woman chooses to not wear makeup, so what? If people don't like it, so what? It's none of their (our) business anyway.

IMO her response to the commenters should be a simple "Piss off!" but then again, she undoubtedly did this online to incite comments anyway. So, she got them.

Rick said...

jr565 said...
but all guys have been in the situation where they went home with a beautiful girl. They woke up the next day and she was absent makeup and she was nowhere near as beautiful.


It was the beer goggles, not the makeup.

tim maguire said...

My preference is for little or no make-up. No make-up says confident and confidence is sexy. Significant skin issues possibly excepted, but nobody has perfect skin so I expect some blemishes.

All of that horrible shit about "never trusting a b*tch with makeup" and "have some dignity sl*t" is very specifically a thing that women have to deal with and men do not...[snip]...And then be excoriated as liars and deceivers and whores by the same men who demanded they cover it with makeup in the first place.

Always love that style of argumentation: magically merge groups of people together, make all responsible for one, one responsible for all, make them all hypocrites as a shortcut around honestly discussing an issue or opinion.

madAsHell said...

She's a nice looking woman. I wonder why she let the acne go out-of-control. Nice looking women usually know how to control that without makeup.....unless she's doing meth.

In a couple of days, the other shoe will drop, and we will learn "it's all a Photoshop, Sue Ellen".

Howard said...

So, this is the example of the other half of the world with an anti-fragile ego?

Saint Croix said...

the abuse shown in the video IS heavily gendered.

Well, who's in control of the video?

cubanbob said...

jr565 said...

Cubsnbob, but all guys have been in the situation where they went home with a beautiful girl. They woke up the next day and she was absent makeup and she was nowhere near as beautiful. Some girls need makeup to be more than plain Janes. Some are hot without any makeup.
7/14/15, 10:06 AM

let me guess, as Rick said, it was 4am and last call for alcohol. Brother, we have all been there at one point. Whats funny about the clowns complaining about her makeup is that if she had huge implants (and they never look real) they all wouldn't be complaining.

Anonymous said...

Gendered articles attract gendered comments. (Does it still count as mansplaining if you wrap it up in five words?)

Rusty said...

Meh. I'd hit it.

William said...

Without makeup, and notwithstanding the acne, she's good looking. With make up, she's beautiful. In the world of carbon based life forms, she's got all the perks of a young pretty woman. Most of the disparate impact she has felt thus far in life comes from the ball bouncing her way. Her life is full of open doors, and guys hustling to open them for her. Well, she attracted a few catty comments. Such suffering will undoubtedly make her a more soulful and interesting person. She's not just beautiful on the surface anymore. She has suffered and become a better person for her suffering.......This fine video would have had even more dramatic impact if she had appeared topless. Even more than acne, tits bring out the cruel sexism that is present in so many men, but not me.

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Oh, puhleeeeze. What a ridiculous drama queen. If a guy did something similar, deliberately focusing attention on some aspect of his appearance whether positive or negative, he would be absolutely savaged by other dudes. And rightly so. Among normal people, airing your vanity is always an invitation to ridicule. Fishing for compliments attracts sharks? Who knew?

damikesc said...

I'm also baffled that these people pretend women don't slam guys for their looks regularly.

My name goes here. said...

"I'm wearing shorts now."

I'm not.

n.n said...

All this feedback indicates is that some people are not sincerely attracted to this woman or are envious of her unadorned features. It is morally hazardous to extrapolate further or to use inference in order to reach a general conclusion. It may also be a strategic bulk commenting glut to promote and confirm an experiment and hypothesis, respectively.

Kyzer SoSay said...

Assuming that she did not rig the lighting or angles or focus to specifically highlight her acne, she still looks like she could use some salicylic acid or benzaclin. I've had worse pimples, and they can be taken care of in about 3 days with proper care. I'd say she does need makeup to cover that if she's looking for compliments on anything but her facial structure or her figure. The thing is, it doesn't take much makeup to cover that. She could have stopped a quarter of the way through that makeup process (assuming she got the rimmed eyes also taken care of, or a good night's sleep) and she'd look perfectly fine. Maybe not ballroom-ready, but definitely dateable, or worth striking up a conversation with.

Men and women have different standards for beauty. My (mostly) former pizza face did not stop me from getting laid. My skinny arms sometimes did, but then I spent over a decade lifting weights, got big arms and chest, and it was a wrap. If a girl spent a decade lifting weights, she'd be a beast. If I wore makeup, I'd be a metrosexual. I'd say the row men have to hoe to increase their physical attractiveness (aside from watching waistlines, which both men and women ought to do) is a bit more demanding than the one women do.

Alex said...

salicylic acid is a great thing for acne. She should try it instead of whining like a little girl that men find her ugly. Oh and stop binging on chocolate.

Titus said...

Do women really put that much makeup on? I had no idea.

I am into Grace Kelly's looks currently-she was hot.

Birches said...

I don't wear makeup unless I'm upset and trying to hide it, or I'm going somewhere special or going to court. I particularly hate eye makeup. Eyes are for reading . The whole makeup industry seems designed to create needs for more product. Clog your pores with foundation then use product to clean out the pores, then use moisturizer to soften dry skin, moisturizer then drys out the skin so you need more moisturizer. Skip the makeup, drink water, eat a healthy diet with lots of eggs. You will have better skin than most women with a beauty regime.

This is the real issue. Once you start wearing makeup regularly, you have to continue wearing it because your skin never sees the light of day and it looks sickly without it. She'd probably look better after going without makeup for three months. Her tone (even with the acne) would even out. I wear makeup occasionally.

Kyzer SoSay said...

Some do. Girls with acne who are going clubbing or to a wedding usually cake it on so it will last through the dancing and the celebration. Girls with better skin and minimal freckles will go much lighter. Also depends on what kind of "eye look" they're going for. Subdued means less, highlighted means in the middle, and vixen means full-bore. My wife used to wear too much makeup and I told her so - she toned it down and lets her remaining freckles show through. I find them adorable, but even then, there are some faces that freckles work with, and some where they don't.

Kyzer SoSay said...

Sun exposure, especially if you wash your face lightly if it's been sweating, is supposed to be helpful in healing acne. The UV light kills the bacteria near the surface, and combined with medicated creams and ointments you can really bust it back to nearly nothing. In my experience, it works, but ya gotta get that face washed soon after or the sweat will clog your pores and create a buffet for tiny pockets of bacteria to grow and thrive.

CatherineM said...

Kyzernick - no way men on avg have it worse. When you built up your muscles, I am sure you were eating more. If you and your wife both had to lose 30lbs, you could still eat 3-500 calories a day to lose the weight faster/easier due to male muscle mass needing more calories. 😫

YouTube is the worst for brain dead low-life commenters in an Internet filled with people who only use the comments medium to scream at the world without repercussions. On YouTube, by the third comment there is always a "fuck you asshole." It's nothing but people insulting each other. People will curse a baby. That's all you need to know.

As soon as I was 7 or 8 I wanted to wear make up. I loved it on the few occasions I was allowed to wear for play thru free Avon samples or my older sister making me up while she got ready to go out. I remember loving my appearance in my "cleopatra" eyes I made. I never did it for boys. I do wish I stayed natural for longer, but there are a lot of things I would undo during adolescence if I had the chance to tell 13 year old me (wear your retainer !!).

SteveOrr said...

I don't get it. Males face the same dilemma. Go natural & put up with people calling you a slob. Or use makeup & put up with "gendered" attacks. Females who wear too much makeup are called deceptive sluts. Males who wear ANY makeup are called vain sissies.

If anything, it seems like females have it easier. They don't get attacked unless they're exposed without makeup.

Freeman Hunt said...

If you don't wear any makeup at all, people mistake you for a kid.

Titus said...

I do like bright lipstick on a female though-and maybe dark eyes.

I do prefer them pale, and think that base stuff is too Cakey and Too Much!

I don't care for women with tans.

I don't want women to do anything but wear their hair straight and up in a bun with strands hanging in face-no curls or waves or whatever.

I want them to look "academic chic"-smart and stylish.

Last week it was 90 and everyone was at the beach and some women are tan.

No sun please, thanks!

Thanks,
Steve

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Freeman Hunt said...

If you don't wear any makeup at all, people mistake you for a kid.

That might just be you. You look pretty young in your profile picture.

eddie willers said...

Males who wear ANY makeup are called vain sissies.

With ample justification.

Yancey Ward said...

She has my sympathy since my acne as a teenager was horrendous. I would wager most of the offensive comments were from other women (and probably young ones, too), however, and this is based on my own experience- almost all of the hurtful comments I received as a teenager were from females, though there weren't actually all that many in total.

I wish women didn't wear make-up, but I don't hold it against them. As men get a bit older, they care a lot less about superficial flaws like scarring from acne.

Bob Ellison said...

Lipstick turns a pretty woman into a bombshell.

MayBee said...

Everything has to be a cause.


Mountain Maven said...

Notice how the smiles, better lighting, less close-ups, and the positive body language go with the make-up.

Freeman Hunt said...

Open your mouth, and act and sound like a grown-up then. People will quickly get past your looks into the substance of what you are communicating...

Nonsense. That's fine for people you're communicating with at any length. But when you're only ordering coffee or telling a seamstress where you want a pair of slacks hemmed, you can spare yourself a million tiny, awkward interactions, wherein someone begins talking to you like a kid then realizes how old you are and looks embarrassed for having initially greeted you like a kid, by swiping on a minimal amount of makeup. Obviously, no one has to do that, but someone might choose to do it to send an immediate, social signal of age.

Fen said...

SJWs are notorious for Mobying their own comment sections. Much like how so many "racist sexist" remarks have turned out to be fabricated by the "victim".

So I no longer extend the benefit of doubt to people like Amy Schumer. In fact, my first impulse is to assume she seeded the comments to promote her point.

Fen said...

Sorry, I meant Em Ford, the OP. Not Amy Schumer.

Fen said...

All of that horrible shit about "never trusting a b*tch with makeup" and "have some dignity sl*t" is very specifically a thing that women have to deal with and men do not.

Then tell women to knock it off. I swear, women are vicious towards each other re how they look. Trying to turn it into a gender issue is lame. I'm reminded that the best at keeping women "in their place" throughout history have been other women.

Also, just watched the vid. She has bad acne. So what? Did she really expect she could post her bad acne pics on social media and not expect the jackasses to snark at her?

William said...

I had terrible acne all through adolescence. Nothing was worse. I've sweated through a few biopsies and had some mid level illnesses, but acne was the worst. Awful timing. At that moment of my life when I was most self conscious about my looks, I had a pizza face with extra pepperoni. At that moment--the only moment--when I could in good conscience pursue sixteen year old girls, I had that leper colony sensibility going on. I'm still bitter about the whole thing.......Ok, it was transient, but teenage years are an eternity squared. I had lots of things to feel bad about during those years, but that was the sharpest blade serrating the most sensitive nerve endings.

William said...

Is there a go fund me site. I would like to send that poor girl some money so she can check in with a crack dermatologist.

Fen said...

"One challenge she laid out was to compare the comments of similar female and male authors. She mentioned Amanda Marcotte, and the comparable male that came to mind was Jonathan Chait. I think Chait is equally dishonest and loathsome, but the comments I read about Marcotte are definitely directed more at her gender, so probably more personal"

Likely because Marcotte is a gender warrior, so to troll her you attack what you know is already a soft spot. I don't know Chait, but if he spent all his time promoting men's rights, I'm sure the attacks on him would also focus on his gender.

Titus said...

I check women on the street more than men...especially now.

I love their little summer sleveless dresses but I am over all the yoga pants.

Women's arms and legs are hot.

I like that area above their tits too-what is that called? Deglatey?

At work when women bend over in their tiny dresses you can see their tits.

I never had acne.

tits.

Known Unknown said...

Not sure I understand the point.

A guy with acne will at one point in his lifetime be referred to as "pizza face" or something equal. And men don't have the luxury of turning to make up to help with their complexion, and enhance their features.

it's not the no make-up that's the issue. It's the acne. It sucks that she has acne, but she'll most likely grow out of it.

damikesc said...


Likely because Marcotte is a gender warrior, so to troll her you attack what you know is already a soft spot. I don't know Chait, but if he spent all his time promoting men's rights, I'm sure the attacks on him would also focus on his gender.


Probably. Also, to be mean, Chait isn't exactly blessed with manliness.

Known Unknown said...

She's actually a really pretty girl.

Again, it's the acne that is driving the commentary.

Bob Ellison said...

SJW is on the trail to becoming "wingers".

A to the C said...

I also had horrendous, cystic acne as a teenager, with the occasional flare up still hitting me in my 40s. As William above said, it was the worst time for that to happen. Must have been called pizza face by strangers 20 times, with fist fights ensuing a couple of those times. The worst, though, I was 15 & had worked up the nerve to ask a girl out that I had a little crush on. In front of her friends, she laughed & told me I was so ugly that it was pathetic. That shit set a bad precedent for a long time. Women and girls can be harsh little fuckers, too.
As for Internet negativity -- the vast majority of it is done by pussies who would never say that shit to someone's face. Gendered or not, it's not worth anyone's time.

Etienne said...

Never in my life would I comment on a woman's makeup. I mean, I was not that good looking in my 20's anyway, with my own blemishes. It just wasn't done.

I think the film highlights the two sides of social media. On the one hand, you want people to notice you on your facebook (or whatever) page, while on the other hand you can't handle the bullies, and graffiti, and want them to leave you alone.

The real solution is to opt-out of the whole f'n fad.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

William said...

I would like to send that poor girl some money so she can check in with a crack dermatologist.

Wow. When they specialize, they really specialize.

RigelDog said...

I really don't get it---how could she know that the amount of abuse is related to sexism? It's obvious to anyone who has spent 10 minutes reading the comments in any large site that there are a sickening number of people who make it their life's business to say the most hurtful crude illogical outrageous things on the wild wild west internets. Post a story about a crippled dog saving a brood of sweet baby ducklings using a dolphin-safe net and fair-trade coffee, and the third comment will be, "F'n dogs should all be shot; ducks are vermin; coffee causes retardation; I want to have sex with dolphins; and whoever made this video should just f'n kill themselves and do us all a favor."

Sydney said...

I was struck by how much work putting all that make up on was. She does look beautiful with it on, but my goodness, you would have to be specially trained to put that on correctly. I would hate to do that every morning.
I never wore make up until a couple of years ago when sun damage left me with red spots on my face. Now I just wear a concealer and only use foundation and lipstick if I think my photo is going to be snapped somewhere. (graduations, weddings, family reunions.)

khesanh0802 said...

The lighting and background were arranged to highlight the acne and various blemishes. This is a con job.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

jr makes some good points. When I was in high school, I remember a couple of males who were ridiculed for their acne, sometimes to their faces, but females never got that abuse (at least not as far as I knew). It also seems that acne was more common then. I guess the treatments are better now. Not only that, but it was considered something that inevitably happened to most, whereas now, I think, it's more quickly and effectively taken care of. There was also the idea, for males at least, that it was vain or effeminate to treat it, or worry about it, this attitude existing simultaneously with the abuse for having it. No one should be shamed for having acne, but it IS a disease, so get it treated. Don't flaunt it in a video to get attention.

Bob Ellison said...

Windex!

Anonymous said...

Yes, but consider the source. Many of these comments are likely from porn-addled guys who aren't getting any (or mindless females.)They're angry and frustrated which is why they can't deal w women in any state of existence. These types will be angry at flawless women, too and try to mindfuck them. Don't allow it. (Not that the attitude doesn't exist among certain subset of 'winner' guys, it does, but they're not the ones posting. They're busy making their real life women miserable.)

In any case, male or female, you have to deal w whatever hand you're dealt and the sooner the better. Instead of seeking external validation from the crowd, maybe she will be inspired to move towards love/connection w the compatible few more quickly.

Her features are quite beautiful. She has a skin issue. Oily skin often means you will age MUCH better than your peers.

Joe said...

She was cute without the makeup; I didn't find her at all appealing with makeup--it was way overdone.

There's going to be a percentage of commenters saying stupid and offensive things just to annoy people. This is especially true when someone is trying to make some social point. However, in my experience, the guys will make blunt comments, which the truly cutting, brutal remarks will be from women.

I have never personally witnessed men tear down women the way women tear down other women.

Unknown said...

Couple thoughts on on make-up in general -

1) My philosophy is a woman should wear as much or as little make-up as she wants to, not for anyone but herself. If that means going natural every day or going full-on glam with false eyelashes and contouring - more power to them. Just like how you choose to dress - it should be about you and no one else.

2) As someone who is very fair with blonde eyelashes and eyebrows, I do a full make-up look everyday because I just like how I look better with it - I could care less how anyone else thinks I look, and it's fun to apply it and try out new products.

3) Even though on any given day I'm wearing moisturizer, foundation, concealer, bronzer, highlighter, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, lip liner, lipstick, mascara, powder in my brows, and setting powder, because of how I apply it, I've had multiple men be absolutely baffled that I wear that much make-up since it's all in neutral colors. I've found most men won't say a woman is wearing too much make-up or even notice she has on makeup unless she wears a really heavy, dark eye or very dark lipstick, or unnatural looking brows.