This is an article from the NY Times about affluent tweens and teens (Ok girls) whose parents (Ok, mothers) bring them into NYC to learn how to do their makeup. It raises interesting questions for me about parental influence along with peer influence and how expectations for behaviors at various ages change over time. Are the parents responding to the peer culture or creating the peer culture for their children. What do you think?
Here's the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/fashion/it-starts-with-lip-gloss-grade-schoolers-and-makeup.html
In response to the NY Times Article "It Starts With Lip Gloss," there are many avenues to dive into regarding whether or not this trend is or is not okay.
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, I's like to begin by saying that I myself am not opposed to the tween market being interested in make up and/or beauty or even wearing certain products. I myself has always been one who was fascinated with the magic of make up and how it can accentuate beauty that is already there. I do believe that beauty and make up products are something that coincides with self esteem for young girls and young women, just as a mid-life make over can bring out the confidence in a middle aged woman.
I find no problem in allowing one's daughter who has an interest in make up or beauty products to wear them. The problem arises depending on the amount one may allow their daughter to wear and at what age. From the day a daughter is born, she is thrown into this type of culture. Her mother dresses her up in fluffy pink dresses, with big pink bows, stockings, and pretty shoes. When that daughter grows into her toddler years, her mother purchases her a chest full of Disney princess gowns, a vanity set with fake brushes, combs, and fake make up for her to play dress up in. When that daughter turns about 9 or 10 and starts accompanying her mother to work or a special event, her mother may allow her to wear a pinch of her lipstick and carry a pocket mirror, or wear a little extra for her performance at a school play.
The bottom line is that these behaviors are apart of a girl's life from the moment she realizes that make up exists and how it can make you look. What is missing however is that some mothers are not instilling in their daughters that make up products do not make one beautiful, but can add to the beauty that already exists. One statement that stuck out for me was, "Girls are hitting puberty at 9 and 10 and are getting pimples on their faces. That's why we sell concealer to cover them up." This notion coincides with my belief that yes make up products are fine; however, they are not meant to hide what naturally happens to a child's face. Pimples come along with puberty and should be handled accordingly, with drinking proper beverages, eating right, and washing one's face with chemicals that will treat pimples. NOT to cover them up and hide them because one feels ashamed that something naturally is happening to their face because they are growing up.
12 year old girls should not go to school with a full face of make up just because their friends are wearing it or because they are "interested so should know how to apply it properly." Certain things are age appropriate; however, it all boils down to what their parents are approving or disproving because if their parents willingly take them, then who is to say what is and is not appropriate for someone's child.