Feminists

Texasgal

(17,235 posts)

31. Back in the early 80's

Sat Feb 4, 2012, 12:54 PM

Feb 2012

My grandmother bought me and my best friend a class at a major department store.

The class was how to apply make-up, how to dress "lady-like", posture....cleanliness. Etc.

They showed us how to shave our legs and when I came home to tell my mom she had a FIT! She told me NOT to shave my legs that I was too young! She almost pulled me out of the class and refused to buy me razors!

I didn't realize until many years later what she was trying to tell me. Shaving your legs is gawd awful! But, the real lesson was the "conditioning" that girls must go through. Shaving your legs at 12 years old is ridiculous.

That said she wouldn't allow me make-up at school until I was sixteen.

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For young girls, it starts with lip gloss [View all] seabeyond Feb 2012 OP

Isn't 12 a bit young for makeup? Ecumenist Feb 2012 #1

they are talking 8 yr olds average 10. imo, yes. i like the ritual of my day seabeyond Feb 2012 #3

Heck, I wasn't allowed to wear tinted lipgloss and TINTED nail polish until I was 16! Ecumenist Feb 2012 #5

my little niece that has been conditioned is ALL that is male and female, since TWO seabeyond Feb 2012 #9

OMG are you serious? Ecumenist Feb 2012 #14

no joshin. AND i talk to my niece about this seabeyond Feb 2012 #15

Whoa, not good. Sexualisation WAY too early and her father handicapping her Ecumenist Feb 2012 #17

Conform! Conform! iwillalwayswonderwhy Feb 2012 #2

I think I could be OK with lip gloss were it only lip gloss. no_hypocrisy Feb 2012 #4

LOL!! "Make a hooker blush." Ecumenist Feb 2012 #8

"She went Goth and still used nail polish, only black though." CrispyQ Feb 2012 #20

I went through that stage. Neoma Feb 2012 #6

also, for whart it is worth DonCoquixote Feb 2012 #7

i got a whiff of that the other day.... and was thinkin. i dont remember where i read it seabeyond Feb 2012 #10

Who can afford to take a 12 year old girl to a salon for make up classes???n/t fasttense Feb 2012 #11

i was thinkin that, too. i cut both boys hair. love the money saved seabeyond Feb 2012 #12

That's what it's all about anyway iwillalwayswonderwhy Feb 2012 #13

Exactly. redqueen Feb 2012 #23

Read the story again jeff47 Feb 2012 #16

Yeah but this is Greenwich, CT VWolf Feb 2012 #19

I started wearing makeup at 15 abelenkpe Feb 2012 #18

Thought provoking. WingDinger Feb 2012 #21

"...it is our way for grabbing our womanhood..." CrispyQ Feb 2012 #22

I've gone with and without, redqueen Feb 2012 #24

i wear make up. always have. always will. it is what i am use to. i am talking about why we do it seabeyond Feb 2012 #25

I struggle with it. redqueen Feb 2012 #26

I agree. Texasgal Feb 2012 #35

My daughter's 11 1/2. xmas74 Feb 2012 #27

good for you mom. seabeyond Feb 2012 #28

You have to search for the clear mascara xmas74 Feb 2012 #29

Waxing what? That is repulsive! behold a pale horse Feb 2012 #30

Back in the early 80's Texasgal Feb 2012 #31

interesting. and see, my mom felt the same. everything was 13 for me.... seabeyond Feb 2012 #32

Yeah...even at sixteen Texasgal Feb 2012 #33

i was always in a pool, ocean or lake. why bother. i hear ya.... nt seabeyond Feb 2012 #34

Interesting cyberswede Feb 2012 #36

my 10 yr old daughter loves make-up Tumbulu Feb 2012 #37

Reminds me of 'beauty contests' for little girls. Rex Feb 2012 #38

Yes, this is how I see these "contests" as well Tumbulu Feb 2012 #39

Sad. Rex Feb 2012 #41

Kinda disturbing that it's the mom bringing her in. iris27 Feb 2012 #40