Intro

     Bold, empowering and classic. The red lip has taken on a multitude of meanings throughout history.

       People have been wearing red lipstick for thousands of years. From ancient times to the present day, it’s been an integral part of any bold look. Used as a symbol of status, confidence and seduction, a simple cosmetic product has become more than a staple in one’s makeup bag, but also a prominent aspect of the women’s rights movement. In the United States, the classic bold red lip we see today grew in popularity especially during the early 1900s.

Ancient Times 

     Red lipstick was first used by women in Ancient Egypt, such as Cleopatra. According to National Geographic, Egyptians made it by crushing insects and wax, cultivating the prized red lip we know today. Part of Cleopatra’s charm was her appearance, achieved in part by her bold red lip, which gained her power and popularity. 

Women’s Suffrage

     During the peak of the women’s rights movement, protesters wore red lipstick during marches to attract attention. Women had found a way to intimidate men by illustrating their defiance through makeup. “[Red lipstick] serves all kinds of purposes. It can be self expression, [or] it can be just to try to get a response,” said Visual Arts Department Chair and US Arts and Humanities Teacher Charla Gaglio.

WW2 

     When the war began, women were forced into the factories that men had left behind. Rosie the Riveter ads made it so the lipstick women once used for empowerment now became a symbol of the expectations society imposed on them.

     Since Hitler also hated red lipstick (it went against his ideal version of a pure Aryan woman), many companies hiring women during WWII would provide red lipstick. In their eyes, this showed defiance to their enemies. 

     “I find the whole idea of manipulating women to wear red lipstick to get back at Hitler odd in the sense that Hitler’s never gonna see them. Really, it’s their [expected] job to have something for the boys to want to come home to, and the red lipstick is going to do that,” said Gaglio. “It makes the relationships between men and women seem shallow.”

Modern Self Expression

     Women are expected to constantly appear put together and look good no matter what, but at the same time are shamed if they wear too much makeup.

      “To be taken seriously as a woman, you have to fit this Goldilocks idea of the male gaze,” said senior Alex Cirino.

           Balancing self-expression and pushback from others can be difficult in a society full of expectations, but many have chosen to focus on the creative outlet and the self expression that makeup can bring to everyday lives.

     “I’m expressing myself, and really I see [makeup] as a form of art,” said sophomore Juliana Weingardt.    

Conclusion     

   A long, complicated history can be seen in just a small tube of product. Red lipstick now shows confidence and rebellion, but it’s been shaped by the expectations society has historically placed on women.