Disclaimer: I initially started this project to highlight the intersectionality between theory and nail art. That being said, you will occasionally see statements of opinion now and again. If this is of no interest to you, keep scrolling. That is all.
The Male Gaze and Nail Art:
Since I’ve become an “amateur nail enthusiast” I’ve noticed there’s a lot of cis males out there that love to point out that fake or overly decorated nails are unattractive and/or unappealing. This is some bullshit. Not only does this criticism occur in response to nails, but there’s always that guy who complains about how women “wear too much make up” or how much money we spend on our hair. I will repeat, this is some bullshit.
We live in a society that, unfortunately, requires women to look a certain way. I mean, especially in LA, where I live. The body image thing here is out of control. Of course, there are some people who choose to step out of that, which is fine, but most girls I know are affected in some way by “seeing oneself through the eyes of others.” W.E.B. DuBois describes this idea of when a person’s view of oneself is clouded or distorted because they’re constantly trying to reconcile a self-identity with an identity society attributes to them. He called it “double consciousness.” This is what it’s like. All the time. To be feminine means to be indoctrinated to constantly be aware of the male gaze. This is why we have eating disorders at a disproportional rate. We are so fucking aware of the way everyone else sees us. The amazing femmes I know that have reached a level of indifference to this structure have had to go through so much to shed this baggage.
To cis men that criticize me for looking too “made up” please just remember:
1. You are blaming the victim of a power structure.
2. I don’t give a shit about your cis male opinion.
3. It’s not always about you. I don’t care what makes you hard. My nails, my make up, my hair are meant for me to feel empowered.
4. It’s my body, don’t tell me what to do with it.
