No Makeup, No Mirrors, No Choice

Although a school must provide education to children, it’s questionable whether it should interfere with self-expression.

School uniforms remain controversial. Some believe that they could have a positive “social leveling” effect, others think they will help children concentrate on education and some believe that it will stifle individuality.

Since I tend to be in the latter camp, I was shocked when I saw that Shelley College is now enforcing a no-makeup rule. How, you ask? They’ve gone so far as to take down the mirrors in the women’s washroom, the staff is “armed with makeup removal kits and nail varnish remover to clamp down on rebellious teens” and they do makeup checks daily.

It’s supposed to help young women focus on learning, encourage equality and it’s also meant to stop them from lingering in the bathroom. I guess they’re spending too much time saying, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”

Maybe we need to take extreme measures to stop the early sexualization of children, but depriving teenage girls of cosmetics may not be a productive way to lay down the law. After all, teenagers are resourceful. They can also bring their own mirrors. It may stop the pace, but it won’t stop the action.

Anyway, is it a crime to wear makeup at school? Adolescence is a time when girls experiment and grow into their own skin. Education is more important than lipstick, but students can still study with it on. And no matter what rules a school imposes, it won’t be able to stop young women from caring (or worrying) about their appearance.

But at least one student looks on the bright side. “Some people are making a fuss but it’s not really a big deal, we can still wear makeup out of school and it makes it feel a bit more special when you get dressed up for a party,” said Abigail Minor.

That may be true, but young women should still have the choice.

Contact the author here: tinybart@morningquickie.com