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    Make-up: Oppressive Or Empowering?

    Written by: Saman Khalid
    Posted on: September 30, 2024 | | 中文

    The difference between filters and real make-up

    Adornment and embellishment have always been a woman's best companions, be it be jewellery or glamorous outfits, fancy ornaments or dazzling make-up. Make-up has been a controversial topic for almost as long as it has been in existence, spurring polarizing opinions from multiple schools of thought. While some hail it as a flagbearer of female autonomy, others consider it to be oppressive and reminiscent of patriarchal beauty standards.

    A woman putting on make-up

    WHY DO WOMEN WEAR MAKE-UP?

    The age-old question of why women feel the need to modify their looks through make-up begs a complex look at the interplay between innate human desires and societal gender norms. At its core, make-up is simply a tool for enhancement meant to improve one's facial features. If used correctly, it serves to amplify already existing highlights . It is, therefore, no surprise that women use it on a day-to-day basis. The desire to ameliorate oneself exists within every human being. While looks aren't substantially significant, they still play a part in determining our interactions with other people. Society places unprecedented importance on women's physical appearance, and often gauges their worth by it. Regardless of its merit, this standard certainly manifests in numerous ways in modern society. As a result, women strive to get as close to the conventional appearance of attraction as possible, and make-up helps them achieve it. Apart from this societal condition, the desire to come across as attractive and impressive also contributes to it. Women tend to feel more confident and sure of themselves when they are wearing make-up, which is both a consequence of other people's reactions to them and the woman's own positive perception of herself. In short, make-up is a means of accomplishing the best-looking version of oneself.

    Mahira Khan giving a make-up tutorial

    IS THERE A LINE?

    Placing excessive value in something as superficial as looks can be dangerous, particularly for the consumer's self-esteem and mental health. There is nothing wrong with using make-up as long as it doesn't negatively impact your dermal health, finances and mental peace. However, it is getting considerably harder to strike a healthy balance in the age of social media. The glorification of expensive make-up products, fake filters and edited pictures have inflated the standards of "beauty" to unmatched heights. Hyper-glamorized models are considered normal these days. This fosters feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem among impressionable young women. In turn, they attempt to emulate what they see on social media in order to live up to unrealistic standards. It is self-evident that this culture is highly detrimental to women at large, since it puts unnecessary pressure on them to fit in.

    Make-up disaster due to overuse

    IS MAKE-UP OPPRESSIVE OR EMPOWERING?

    This distinction is totally subjective and depends on the individual's own relationship with themselves. For a lot of women, make-up is a therapeutic hobby that allows them to express their aesthetic sensibilities. It is an art-form which has been adopted professionally by countless people, both male and female. At the same time, make-up has been shown to promote confidence and a general feeling of well-being. Moreover, it manipulates the human psyche that deems beauty as "goodness". Therefore, make-up prevents unjust extrapolations of one's looks to their character. All in all, if a woman wears make-up out of her own free will and feels that it is aligned with her values, it is empowering.

    Creative 3D make-up

    On the flip side, if a woman feels pressured to adopt a certain look in order to appease external forces, make-up takes an oppressive form. If the act of putting make-up on doesn't agree with a woman's internal sense of self, it becomes a nuisance. Therefore, make-up isn't inherently good or evil. The intention behind its use, coupled with its impact on the individual is what determines whether it is empowering or oppressive. The right approach would be to do what feels right for you, while keeping in mind the rational consequences of our actions, instead of blindly following social media trends.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021