I saw one of the bank workers wearing kitten heels today and I thought oh my God are they still doing that? Can’t wear I just be plain and comfortable.

One of the last offices I worked in had it in the employee handbook that if women were wearing skirts, they were also to be wearing heels and pantyhose. If you wore slacks you were to be in sheer knee highs and heels. The minute you were in the office you were expected to be in your “work shoes” meaning no flats, sneakers or snow boots during the winter. Makeup was also a requirement. The companies CEO.. a woman. Would make the rounds in the office EVERY DAY. This was 2017/18

I’m 33, been working since I was 18, have never once worn makeup. It’s not required at all, and no one should believe otherwise.

Let me guess, they think tattoos and hair color aren't acceptable at work either....

When I was fresh out of college I had one job ask me to wear makeup because I was on a teen psych unit floor. My boss was worried the kids would think I’m the same age as them based on my height. Since the girls who were staying there couldn’t wear makeup she thought it would help the kids think I was an adult. When new girls came in it was always an issue because they didn’t understand why I got to wear make up and they didn’t. Haven’t worn makeup for any job since that one.

Sadly, she is not entirely wrong. Many companies do mention the usage of makeup as their "acceptable dress code ", because they want their employees looking "presentable", "put together" etc. Because they had received negative feedback from clients. It has got somewhat better in the US in the last 30 or 40 years, but those ideas are still very much alive

I never wear makeup to an interview, as a rule. I barely wear it anyways, so I make a point not to set expectations by doing so

I used to wear make up every day. Then one morning my then 2-year old daughter said, “Mama beautiful. Mama wear make up.” It was at that moment when I stopped. I didn’t want her thinking she had to wear make up to be beautiful.

I don't wear makeup anymore, but there was a time when I still kept a mascara and lipstick that I liked handy, for those days the wild hair crossed my ass. The worst part of those days, and if I'm being honest, why I stopped, was the comments I would get ALL DAY about my appearance when I wore makeup. I'm only being slightly hyperbolic when I say ppl would fall over themselves to tell me how nice I looked. As someone who barely ever wants to be perceived, it was too much.

Why is this such an issue? Wear makeup or don’t but let’s all support whatever choice people make. In previous generations women were expected and required to wear makeup. Now women don’t have to usually. I don’t find wearing makeup oppressive in the least but all this pressure not to is really irritating to me. I like wearing it so I’ll wear it. At the same time I don’t care if other women do or not.