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MASCARA AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY 3
Mascara and Its Impact on Society
Jennifer Moore
Southern New Hampshire University
IDS-400 Popular Culture
Professor Kozlowski
November 13, 2022
Mascara and Its Impact on Society
The cosmetic industry has seen drastic growth from its origins in ancient Greece. Specifically, the use of mascara has grown to be used by many, regardless of age and gender. While celebrities like Boy George have set the trend for men wearing mascara, the product is mainly seen as a feminine product (Rodrigues et al., 2015). The use of the product has had a significant impact on society. Through the social science lens, mascara has had a massive impact on various societal institutions, with its effect mainly being felt in the community and the economy.
The use of mascara has contributed to the debate on gender politics. Since the 1980s, society has been embroiled in a heated debate concerning gender, with the debate centering around gender fluidity (Heyes & Latham, 2018). On one side are the conservatives, who argue that there are only two genders. On the other are the left-wing individuals, who advocate that gender can be fluid and anyone can be any gender they wish. Mascara has helped to further this debate. For a long time, wearing mascara was seen as a feminine trait. However, as gender politics continue to shape society, men and other genders (for example, non-binary individuals) have begun to wear mascara as a symbol of their identity (Heyes & Latham, 2018). This has kept the debate on mascara on society's lips, helping to advance its discussion.
Mascara, along with other cosmetic products, has also raised the debate concerning beauty standards. The product has been in use for a very long time and has come to be associated with beauty (Marasca, 2020). This means that women who do not apply mascara are often seen as short of beauty. However, at the turn of the new millennium, there was a debate concerning the use of make-up and standards of beauty. Public figures such as Alicia Keys have stopped applying cosmetic products such as mascara, further increasing the debate on cosmetic products such as mascara (Marasca, 2020). This has helped alter perceptions of beauty, especially in contemporary society.
Mascara, as part of the cosmetic industry, has made a significant impact on society's economy. People purchase mascara, making the industry a profitable enterprise. With money in people's pockets, society can grow and fund itself, which is often a positive detail.
The cosmetic industry has deep social roots. It is nearly impossible to understand the social and gender dynamics properly. The main entity that has shaped the societal perception of mascara and other cosmetic products is the societal perception of beauty, especially toward the female gender (Mazzetti, 2022). Wide eyes have for a long time been associated with beauty, which is why women widely use the product. Societal views on beauty have profoundly shaped the use of mascara.
Understanding the social roots that define the use of mascara can help someone better understand the world by helping bring contemporary gender issues to a newer and more refined perspective (Mazzetti, 2022). No one can blind themselves to these issues, as everyone is affected. Therefore, understanding mascara from a social point of view allows an individual to understand world issues such as gender politics even better.
References
Heyes, C. J., & Latham, J. R. (2018). Trans surgeries and cosmetic surgeries: The politics of analogy. Transgender Studies Quarterly, 5(2), 174-189.
Marasca, D. X. (2020). Exporting and Moulding Ideals of Beauty: Boom of the South Korean Cosmetic Industry in the Era of Globalisation.
Mazzetti, M. S. (2022). Is the future of the cosmetic industry genderneutral?.
Rodrigues, F., Pimentel, F. B., & Oliveira, M. B. P. (2015). Olive by-products: Challenge application in cosmetic industry. Industrial Crops and Products, 70, 116-124.
