This is a book which falls into the area of women's and gender studies, and is an excellent choice for International Women's Day! (But for my ideas on the day see below).
Fresh Lipstick was one of my basic theoretic texts during PhD study, because it deals with the relationship between women, feminism and beauty. Linda M. Scott belongs to the area of feminism (Third Wave/ Lipstick Feminism) which approves of beauty, beauty practices and beauty products.
Like myself, Scott is pro-beauty, and argues that to divorce women from beauty is a form of what she calls "cultural cruelty". Beauty is important in the lives of women.
Scott makes a good case for her ideas, explaining that feminism has always been interested in beauty, and that women are not simple consumers of beauty products; they are active agents in the beauty and fashion businesses, as employees, managers and business owners.
The book contains massive research on women entrepreneurs of the beauty industry in the US, women like as Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder and Helena Rubinstein.
The one problem in the book is the sometimes hostile attitude towards more traditional feminism, and also what I think is a complete misunderstanding of Naomi Wolf's ideas in The Beauty Myth. Wolf created history when she wrote The Beauty Myth, and she by no means regards beauty as oppression.
As a feminist, I have ambivalent feelings towards women's day. Every day is a good day, if we are to fight for gender equality and respect for basic human rights. If Woman's Day is used as a platform, then this is fine with me. However, a single day dedicated to women's issues does not solve problems or change attitudes.
Have a good night and be well, always with beauty and a book! xxx
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