Comments on: The Young Women Program and the Emphasis on Beauty: Lessons in makeup? http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/ Am I not a woman and a sister? Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:44:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Caroline http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19846 Caroline Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:50:04 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19846 Oh my gosh, these stories are incredible. Nipple mannequins? Pretty princess talking mirrors. I'm speechless. Oh my gosh, these stories are incredible. Nipple mannequins? Pretty princess talking mirrors. I’m speechless.

]]> By: laurenlou http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19796 laurenlou Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:49:29 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19796 mhana--i too was forever scarred by the nipple mannequin. also, while i was in the mtc they offered an optional "enrichment" class for sisters. my companion wanted to do it, and i'm always game for a good laugh, so we went. two orem women with the biggest hair i'd ever seen (and i grew up in utah) came in and did our makeup, made us promise we'd wear makeup every day on our missions, and wouldn't let us leave until we looked into their talking pretty princess mirror that mechanically told us how beautiful we were and said thank you with a smile. shudder. on the other hand, a dutch elder in my district had to report a day early so he and the other international missionaries could get lessons in proper hygiene and the wonders of the modern bathroom. i think i'd much rather have it implied that i need a bit of makeup than that i need to learn how to use toilet paper... mhana–i too was forever scarred by the nipple mannequin.
also, while i was in the mtc they offered an optional “enrichment” class for sisters. my companion wanted to do it, and i’m always game for a good laugh, so we went. two orem women with the biggest hair i’d ever seen (and i grew up in utah) came in and did our makeup, made us promise we’d wear makeup every day on our missions, and wouldn’t let us leave until we looked into their talking pretty princess mirror that mechanically told us how beautiful we were and said thank you with a smile. shudder.
on the other hand, a dutch elder in my district had to report a day early so he and the other international missionaries could get lessons in proper hygiene and the wonders of the modern bathroom. i think i’d much rather have it implied that i need a bit of makeup than that i need to learn how to use toilet paper…

]]> By: Mhana http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19767 Mhana Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:01:44 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19767 I didn't have this in Young Womens but when I went to the MTC they offered special makeup lessons to the sisters as "the billboards of the church." I'll never forget my first Relief Society meeting there. I was sure that AT LAST I'd here something tailored to the women who served, maybe even by a member of the General RS presidency! I was bitterly disappointed when I was greeted by a mannequin with nipples wearing a tight short and a stern lecture about "GTC -- Gaps, Thighs and Cleavage" We were warned that we were to be attractive so people would listen to the message, but not so attractive that we'd distract the elders. I'm SURE that my garment-clad thighs were incredibly tantalizing when my slit slipped, but fortunately my sweat washed away my makeup and made the Elders able to resist. I didn’t have this in Young Womens but when I went to the MTC they offered special makeup lessons to the sisters as “the billboards of the church.” I’ll never forget my first Relief Society meeting there. I was sure that AT LAST I’d here something tailored to the women who served, maybe even by a member of the General RS presidency! I was bitterly disappointed when I was greeted by a mannequin with nipples wearing a tight short and a stern lecture about “GTC — Gaps, Thighs and Cleavage” We were warned that we were to be attractive so people would listen to the message, but not so attractive that we’d distract the elders. I’m SURE that my garment-clad thighs were incredibly tantalizing when my slit slipped, but fortunately my sweat washed away my makeup and made the Elders able to resist.

]]> By: Motion de Smiths http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19765 Motion de Smiths Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:33:43 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19765 Your story about the woman is horrifying and unbelievable (though I believe you, I'm still in shock). In general, I have mixed feelings about makeup lessons and hairstyling lessons. We had them in my young women's and I think my leaders were pretty good at just making it a lesson in how NOT to look trashy while wearing makeup (as opposed to you should look good for someone else). The hairstyling lessons were not so much about every-day wear, but specific hairstyling skills. It depends on how it's approached, and whether the teachers emphasize inner beauty and choice. Your story about the woman is horrifying and unbelievable (though I believe you, I’m still in shock). In general, I have mixed feelings about makeup lessons and hairstyling lessons. We had them in my young women’s and I think my leaders were pretty good at just making it a lesson in how NOT to look trashy while wearing makeup (as opposed to you should look good for someone else). The hairstyling lessons were not so much about every-day wear, but specific hairstyling skills. It depends on how it’s approached, and whether the teachers emphasize inner beauty and choice.

]]> By: Jill http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19364 Jill Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:53:53 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19364 Ok, that story is terrible. However, the women in the developing countries that I have lived in (D.R. and Honduras) were much more focused on beauty than we are in the U.S. By the second year in Honduras I felt weird if I left the house without earrings on. I liked makeup activities personally, but more because they were fun bonding experiences than anything. As long as they intermingled with many different types of activities, I think that it is ok. Ok, that story is terrible.

However, the women in the developing countries that I have lived in (D.R. and Honduras) were much more focused on beauty than we are in the U.S. By the second year in Honduras I felt weird if I left the house without earrings on.

I liked makeup activities personally, but more because they were fun bonding experiences than anything. As long as they intermingled with many different types of activities, I think that it is ok.

]]> By: Jana http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19300 Jana Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:28:38 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19300 Azucar: Fascinating! What percentage of the Young Men showed up & how engaged were they in learning about their skin type? What did you call your event, if not a Hygiene Night? Azucar:
Fascinating! What percentage of the Young Men showed up & how engaged were they in learning about their skin type? What did you call your event, if not a Hygiene Night?

]]> By: Azucar http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19299 Azucar Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:38:18 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19299 Jana, We did Hygiene nights, but we didn't call them that. The last one I taught was how to take care of your skin--which soaps to use if you had sensitive, oily, or dry skin, etc. How you need to change your pillowcase and your towels. Basically, how to take care of yourself. Jana,

We did Hygiene nights, but we didn’t call them that. The last one I taught was how to take care of your skin–which soaps to use if you had sensitive, oily, or dry skin, etc. How you need to change your pillowcase and your towels. Basically, how to take care of yourself.

]]> By: anon http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19281 anon Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:03:00 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19281 Some girls may think its silly or boring to do a make up night, but you can't please everyone all the time. Just like all the girls may not appreciate baking or hiking or watching a chick flick, or doing a book club night or learning to shoot a gun. So you just do the best you can, and try to mix it up. I have never heard of the YM doing hygiene nights, LOL. Although we do have the "manners" night, where the YW and the YM have an evening in etiquette, dating, and manners, and I think its discussed there. Some girls may think its silly or boring to do a make up night, but you can’t please everyone all the time. Just like all the girls may not appreciate baking or hiking or watching a chick flick, or doing a book club night or learning to shoot a gun. So you just do the best you can, and try to mix it up.

I have never heard of the YM doing hygiene nights, LOL. Although we do have the “manners” night, where the YW and the YM have an evening in etiquette, dating, and manners, and I think its discussed there.

]]> By: EmilyCC http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19278 EmilyCC Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:33:16 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19278 Excellent point, Jana! I know YM leaders have talked about ways to deal with their kids hygiene issues, but I don't know of any hygiene or mani/pedi nights :) Excellent point, Jana! I know YM leaders have talked about ways to deal with their kids hygiene issues, but I don’t know of any hygiene or mani/pedi nights :)

]]> By: chanson http://the-exponent.com/2009/11/18/the-young-women-program-and-the-emphasis-on-beauty-lessons-in-makeup/#comment-19277 chanson Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:19:14 +0000 http://the-exponent.com/?p=3753#comment-19277 I remember having at least one hair-and-make-up activity in YWs. Fortunately, it was not prefaced with such an awful story! It was presented more as "something fun that girls are interested in" like crafts. I don't think the activity had much impact on my ideas about the importance of beauty. (I've never been interested in hair, make-up, and fashion, and I have a fairly positive self-image.) However, it probably contributed to my opinion of church stuff in general, as something that's sometimes fun, sometimes painfully dull, and almost always a bunch of trivial fluff. I remember having at least one hair-and-make-up activity in YWs. Fortunately, it was not prefaced with such an awful story! It was presented more as “something fun that girls are interested in” like crafts.

I don’t think the activity had much impact on my ideas about the importance of beauty. (I’ve never been interested in hair, make-up, and fashion, and I have a fairly positive self-image.) However, it probably contributed to my opinion of church stuff in general, as something that’s sometimes fun, sometimes painfully dull, and almost always a bunch of trivial fluff.

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