Women's Fashion And Cosmetics

                                           

                                   

     The fashion industry makes up a large part of our economy.  Ten

   billion dollars a year is spent on cosmetics and skin-care products

   alone.  Some may think that these fashions and products help raise

    the self-esteem of women and make them more successful.  However,

   success is not based on appearance.  We are judged by our hard work

   and achievements.  Women's fashion and cosmetics serve to imprison

       women rather than liberate them.  Make-up is money and time

  consuming, billboard images send out false portraits and high-fashiona

            footwear is costly health wise  and economically.

              

                     

  A considerable amount of time is spent on make-up and styling hair.

     It takes at least fifteen minutes to put on the make-up in the

   morning and it takes ten minutes to take it off at night and if the

  make-up isn't removed, it will clog pores and cause acne.  This time

      could be used more productively by perhaps eating a healthier

    breakfast, exercising or getting to school earlier to prepare for

   classes.  Liane Faulder of the Edmonton Journal says, "Part of the

    problem with worrying about how you look is that it drains you of

   time, money and energy which you could use for other things.  Like

  pursing a career, reproductive rights, or equal pay for work of equal

  value.  Or maybe just having fun."  It is also money consuming. Make-

  up and hair products are expensive.  The money used to buy  cosmetics

  and hair styling products could be spent for more important things.

     If one has that much money to give away, why not save it for a

    college education or donate it to a charitable organization?  The

    time and money spent on cosmetics and hair commodities imprisons

      women by preventing them from doing more constructive things.

                                   

                                   

    Next, billboard images of waif models cause thousands of women to

  diet to the point of anorexia.  People see beautiful models on T.V.,

   magazines and newspapers.  These gorgeous models have big breasts,

   small waists, long legs and lashes.  Women think that this  is the

   image of the "perfect woman" when really she weighs almost 23% less

    than the average American woman.  As a result, each year 150 000

    American women die of anorexia.  Because of these false images of

            ravishing models, women are prisoners of hunger.

                                   

  Finally, high heels are a major cause of foot problems among women.

  Many women place their rectangular feet into triangular-shaped high-

   fashion footwear which can lead to twisted ankles, osteoporosis and

       limited mobility.  Wearing high heels also causes bunions,

   bunionettes, hammertoes, and neuromas.  Consider that of 813 bunion

  operations, 94% were done on women.  Of 111 bunionettes, 87% were on

 women.  Of 848 hammertoes corrections, 70% were carried out on women.

  And of 299 neuromas, 88% were on women.  High heels cause a downward

    pressure forcing the wide foot further into an already narrow toe

 space, whereas, men's shoes generally fit the dimensions of the foot.

  Women are ruining their feet by wearing shoes that are two sizes too

  narrow.  Let's also consider the cost of "tightness" when both Canada

    and the U.S. are facing staggering health bills.  It is estimated

    that 850 000 foot operations cost the U.S. $3.5 billion dollars.

  Vanity should not take priority over health and health costs.  women

  are limited in high heels because of their lack of mobility and high

                              health risks.

                                   

  Women's fashion and cosmetics serve to confine women by wasting time,

      money and energy.  It may also involve health risks.  A money

    draining industry dominates women in this society.  Women need to

    judge and determine whether or not they want to be ruled by it.

    People might argue that looking good and the attention that comes

    with it raises self-confidence and self-esteem.  But, has society

  come to the point that we have to resort to superficial products and

   material things to make us feel capable?  We should feel good about

    the things that we work hard to achieve not the things we put on.