Girls who say they "have" to wear make up for work?

Lillylilly · 07-04-2010 03:57PM #1

I was just flicking through another thread where girls are discussing whether or not guys prefer the natural look. A couple of these posters said that they "have to wear make up for work". Unless they are make up artists/ models I don't know how this is possible. If it's not in your contract- then you don't "have" to do anything! I understand that make up may make some people feel better about themselves, but I hate the way girls say they "have" to wear it!!
What do yiz think? Do any women out there have a good reason why they "have" to wear make up for work?

petes · 07-04-2010 04:00PM

They could be hookers.

Kiera · 07-04-2010 04:01PM

I'll only wear make up to work if i have a meeting. I worked in a hotel years ago and always wore make up, if you see me without it you'd get a fright

cynder · 07-04-2010 04:03PM

Dont use make up unless im going out, I used to work as a hotel receptionist and never wore make up for that. If by chance i go to funeral then i would put on natural make up. I dont like being an umpa lumpa (the orange men out of charlie and the chocolate factory).

General Zod · 07-04-2010 04:04PM

a little make up is not a bad thing.

natural look is good too.

Plastering on the makeup for the majority of jobs just makes me think that your face is going to crack open at some point like the end of The Fly.

Lillylilly · 07-04-2010 04:07PM

I have a friend who works in sales, and she is one of the "Oh, I have to wear it for work" gals. It's not like she's selling anything remotely associated to appearence, so I just don't buy it as a valid excuse! It makes her feel nicer looking. I wish people would just admit that!!!

Burning Eclipse · 07-04-2010 04:08PM

My fiancée worked part time in Brown Thomas while in college, and it was in her contract that yes, she had to wear make-up.

It's more common than you might imagine, particularly in retail/services sectors.

Danbo! · 07-04-2010 04:09PM

Meh, if it makes them feel more comfortable, then maybe personally they "have" to wear it.

Lillylilly wrote: »

If it's not in your contract- then you don't "have" to do anything!

Nowhere in my contract does it state I have to wear clothes to work, yet I reckon I "have" to

4zn76tysfajdxp · 07-04-2010 04:09PM

Lillylilly wrote: »

I was just flicking through another thread where girls are discussing whether or not guys prefer the natural look. A couple of these posters said that they "have to wear make up for work". Unless they are make up artists/ models I don't know how this is possible.

They are very ugly.

ibarelycare · 07-04-2010 04:10PM

I wear makeup every day and I don't mind admitting it...I just couldn't do the barefaced look! I work at reception so I have to look presentable. Now I don't plaster it on...bit of tinted moisturier, some powder, little bit of eyeshadow and mascara does me for work...but I wouldn't dare greet people without it!

Lillylilly · 07-04-2010 04:13PM

Stee wrote: »

Meh, if it makes them feel more comfortable, then maybe personally they "have" to wear it.

But if their own personal comfort is why they wear it, then admit that. In my head, if someone "has" to wear make up to work- I would assume they'd get pulled up by their boss if they did not. Maybe I'm naive, but I can't imagine that happens as often as people say they "have" to wear make up to work!!

Dravokivich · 07-04-2010 04:13PM

work in a call centre, there was a chick that used to work with us... so much make up on her it actually rubbed off onto the foam on her head set. was fúcking nuts.

Anyhow, i can understand why they'd put on a bit, just as much as a bloke may quickly dabble some gel into his hair, but nothing crazy like circus clown shít.

TBH I think shool girls are bleeding worse for it.

prinz · 07-04-2010 04:13PM

ibarelycare wrote: »

I wear makeup every day and I don't mind admitting it...I just couldn't do the barefaced look! I work at reception so I have to look presentable.

Fellas manage to look presentable without it, but you are correct a lot of employers would take being 'presentable' for a woman to mean at least some attempt at being made up.

AnonoBoy · 07-04-2010 04:13PM

You know you've found a great girl when she doesn't worry about you seeing her in the morning without makeup.

(As long as she's pretty that is. I'm shallow, what can I say?)

07-04-2010 04:15PM

Actually I once worked for a company who had it in their staff handbook (which is directly connected to the contract) that you had to wear make up! Sad but true.

Where I am now it is strongly suggested that we wear a little make up, I can only use black hair bands and can't walk around the building without my suit jacket!

You'd be amazed at the pressure sales people are under to wear a certain type of clothes and look a certain way.

cynder · 07-04-2010 04:15PM

When i worked as a hotel receptionist it did state in the handbook that women could wear make up but it had to be low key.

Lux23 · 07-04-2010 04:15PM

I wear because I look and feel better with it.

07-04-2010 04:16PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

You know you've found a great girl when she doesn't worry about you seeing her in the morning without makeup.

you know you've found a great girl when you don't have to worry about seeing her in the morning without make up :pac:

Dravokivich · 07-04-2010 04:17PM

Deleted User wrote: »

you know you've found a great girl when you don't have to worry about seeing her in the morning

FYP

whatdoicare · 07-04-2010 04:17PM

It's a catch 22 for some women, they wear the make-up to hide bad skin but the more they wear it the worse their skin gets. I hardly ever wear make-up and I have lovely skin so don't need to wear make-up.
I know a lot of my friends can't leave the house with out make-up so are probably using the "I have to for work" as an excuse.

_Whimsical_ · 07-04-2010 04:18PM

Lillylilly wrote: »

I have a friend who works in sales, and she is one of the "Oh, I have to wear it for work" gals. It's not like she's selling anything remotely associated to appearence, so I just don't buy it as a valid excuse! It makes her feel nicer looking. I wish people would just admit that!!!

I think certain work environments and employers do expect a certain look for their employees. I think in sales, regardless of what you are selling, looking your best and looking like you've made an effort is very important. It's been proven that better looking,more attractive people do get better service in shops and that in interviews where both candidates are equally qualified the better looking one will generally get the job. It works on an unconscious level and very few will admit even to themselves that a persons appearance will influence the way the treat them but it happens all the same. That's just life unfortunately.

I think the more interesting question here is why do you care so much about this? What do you think when you meet a woman who is well dressed and made up? You sound a bit annoyed by it. Does it make you feel threatened or inferior? Or superior even?

Lillylilly · 07-04-2010 04:19PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Actually I once worked for a company who had it in their staff handbook (which is directly connected to the contract) that you had to wear make up! Sad but true.

Where I am now it is strongly suggested that we wear a little make up, I can only use black hair bands and can't walk around the building without my suit jacket!
QUOTE]

Oh my God! I am so surprised by that. I have worked places where lads were made shave if they had stubble (usually after a Saturday night out on the p!ss), and people got pulled up if they're uniform wasn't properly adhered to, but I didn't think that women could be forced to wear make up.

cynder · 07-04-2010 04:20PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

work in a call centre, there was a chick that used to work with us... so much make up on her it actually rubbed off onto the foam on her head set. was fúcking nuts.

Anyhow, i can understand why they'd put on a bit, just as much as a bloke may quickly dabble some gel into his hair, but nothing crazy like circus clown shít.

TBH I think shool girls are bleeding worse for it.

I hate that when i go in to a clothes shop and there are orange make up stains on the brand new clothes. Some of the ones wearing jackets leave orange stains on the collars, eerrrr and it all goes patchy around their necks.....

AnonoBoy · 07-04-2010 04:20PM

Deleted User wrote: »

you know you've found a great girl when you don't have to worry about seeing her in the morning without make up :pac:

I think you need to read the hidden text at the end of my post.

Sofaspud · 07-04-2010 04:20PM

I have a male friend who has to wear makeup for work, it's ridiculous!

I tell Coco all the time that he could sue the ringmaster for discrimination, but every time I tell him he seems to get stuck in an invisible, soundproof box.

07-04-2010 04:21PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I think you need to read the hidden text at the end of my post.

I did. I deleted it when I quoted you :rolleyes:

ibarelycare · 07-04-2010 04:23PM

grindelwald wrote: »

Dont use make up unless im going out, I used to work as a hotel receptionist and never wore make up for that. If by chance i go to funeral then i would put on natural make up. I dont like being an umpa lumpa (the orange men out of charlie and the chocolate factory).

Wearing makeup =/= looking like an oompa loompa. Not if you're doing it right anyway.

Lillylilly · 07-04-2010 04:25PM

chilly wrote: »

I think the more interesting question here is why do you care so much about this? What do you think when you meet a woman who is well dressed and made up? You sound a bit annoyed by it. Does it make you feel threatened or inferior? Or superior even?

Not at all. I was perusing another thread and it got me thinking- it's as simple as that. I don't view women in a different way if they are or are not wearing make up- it just astounds me when people say they "have to wear it for work". I only wear make up when I'm going out- that's my personal preference. I just question it when girls say that they have to wear it, when a lot of the time, they don't, it's just their personal preference.
I have to say though, I am genuinely surprised by the replies saying that people have it in their contracts. I wouldn't have thought that was allowed in a society that's moving towards equality.

_Whimsical_ · 07-04-2010 04:26PM

Lillylilly wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

Actually I once worked for a company who had it in their staff handbook (which is directly connected to the contract) that you had to wear make up! Sad but true.

Where I am now it is strongly suggested that we wear a little make up, I can only use black hair bands and can't walk around the building without my suit jacket!
QUOTE]

Oh my God! I am so surprised by that. I have worked places where lads were made shave if they had stubble (usually after a Saturday night out on the p!ss), and people got pulled up if they're uniform wasn't properly adhered to, but I didn't think that women could be forced to wear make up.

I doubt anyone is ever hauled into the toilets and "forced" to smear themselves in pan stick. However once you walk into any work environment and look around you generally get the gist of the dress code straight away and you are generally better off to adhere to it.

In some places that means highly groomed, made up women and men with short hair, well groomed facial hair and shirts and ties etc. Expectations like this are rarely verbalised because they're usually very apparent to everyone. Anyone who doesn't fall into line usually finds themselves somewhere on the fringes of the social hub bub. Not fair, not right just human nature. Work isn't really the place most people want to go challenging social norms.

speedboatchase · 07-04-2010 04:28PM

I did my Leaving in 2002 and every girl in my school wore zero make-up, tied their hair in bobbins and wore "kilts" instead of skirts. A few years later and the next generation were wearing thongs, skirts, make-up and generally 10x hotter - gutted :mad: It does seem to have gone a bit mad however in the last couple of years, some girls genuinely look like clowns and in general the only way to tell the diff between an 18yr old and a 14yr is the size of the head in proportion to their body! I even remember a ranting and ravings thread (RIP) where a guy was complaining about girls going to the local swimming pool and standing around in the pool in full make-up?!

ps. Just realised this has nothing to do with people wearing it for work lol. I worked in River Island a few years ago and some days (usually if they had been partying hard or back from a festival that day) girls were unrecognisable without slap

robinph · 07-04-2010 04:29PM

Stee wrote: »

Nowhere in my contract does it state I have to wear clothes to work, yet I reckon I "have" to

There are laws to cover that so doesn't need to be in your work contract.

Girls who say they "have" to wear make up for work?

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