Imagine that you woke up late in the morning. You will cry out at the clock, take a quick shower, and throw on your clothes. After getting all dressed, you find that fortunately, you have time for breakfast thanks to getting ready to go out quickly. When you smile with relief, the idea of your smile suddenly comes to your mind. That is, you didn’t put on makeup yet. Inevitably, you give up eating breakfast. If you are a man, it is tough to sympathize with it. However, in fact, most women experience this – especially during exam periods. In the busy morning, although they want to skip makeup, they sit down in front of the dresser. What makes Korean women put on makeup?

Many Korean people think that women should put on makeup because they think it as a basic manner. Of course, they also wear makeup for many other reasons, including hiding skin troubles and self-satisfaction. However, though many women do it obligatorily because of social pressures, it is not a light matter. In Korea, most people have a tendency to consider women without any makeup lazy and rude, especially at school and at work. Recently, an article about an experience related to makeup written by a woman was issued on the Internet. She said she usually goes to the office without her makeup on because of her skin problems. One day, her boss criticized her openly for not wearing makeup at the office and instructed her to put on makeup because it is a manner. She complained about it to people who read her article. However, most of comments on the writing say women ought to put on makeup for work. It represents the reality of a woman’s place in social life. A woman’s business attitude, ability, and personality are judged by whether she puts makeup on or not in Korean society. An even bigger problem is that women also accept this situation, for example, the boss in the article was a woman.

           A woman doesn’t need to try to be beautiful for others, but rather, a woman is a colleague and a member of society. This fair and clear fact is often overlooked by both men and women. Makeup is not in consideration for others and a duty for women. It is a choice according to individual values. If you think women without any makeup are unprofessional and unconsciously negligent, or if you feel self-conscious because of makeup, you are not free from sexual discrimination. We should try to recognize this kind of sexist attitude in daily life and try to fix it right.

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