Hi, I’m Spandana, studying BA (Economics, Sociology, Literature) from Kasturba Gandhi College. I have attended National seminars and given paper presentations before but I’m still nervous about this being my first article in Youth Ki Awaaz.
Today, I want to talk about men and makeup. I’m from a joint family. So, one day, after finishing his online classes, my small brother was simply sitting and turning the pages of the newspaper. I saw an advertisement and I asked him for his opinion on the lipstick ad that the paper had. He said, what’s there to say. It is a lipstick ad for girls. I told him that everyone can use it he was not accepting the fact because he a kid what society influence will be on the child. Then I thought of writing this article.
Do not let people dictate which products you can and cannot use. Your face, your makeup, do what you want. People think only women can do makeup and not men, but at the same time, Ankush Bahuguna proved it wrong by breaking all stereotypes. He used makeup in his video and I was so happy to see those toxic gender stereotypes being broken. He gave another example of how BTS members wear makeup and I didn’t even know that.
Mostly, Indian male actors also wear makeup but they are shy to accept it. These so-called gender rules mostly tell people that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. But, I personally don’t like pink despite being a girl. I have nothing against the colour, but it’s just that everyone has their own choice and we should not use a tag for them. I have one more example like Ankush Bahuguna when one brave little boy unconsciously broke the stereotype.
The boy’s father wrote on his Twitter in 2018. A 4 years boy painted his nails with flowers sticker on his first day of school. He wore nail polish to school and he was ridiculed all day long by other kids in his class. When the boy’s mother came to pick him up, he collapsed into her arms and cried uncontrollably. He was devastated at how the other kids turned on him. Only one kid stood up for him. His dad did not allow the bullies to win when he told his son that lot of men wear makeup and nail polish.
Men like Jack Sparrow and Thor wear makeup. He told Sam to wear an even brighter nail polish the next day. He told his son it does not matter what anyone else does because what you wear and how you look should make you look good. I am not telling everyone to wear makeup. I personally do not wear makeup. But people should have their own choice and you have the right to do whatever you want.
Breakdown all the gender-biased walls and pave a path for a more accepting and colourful future.