6-2 Activity: Reflection: Society

Jennifer Moore

Southern New Hampshire University

IDS-404 Popular Culture

Professor Kozlowski

Understanding Mascara Use

For the outsider, mascara only presents itself as an item of beauty. That is usually the universal perception of mascara, where many see it as a beauty product. However, mascara use is much more than just beauty. It represents gender identity and the constant struggle between conservatives and liberals, where mascara and other beauty products are at the center of gender politics. To many in the LGBTQIA+, mascara is more than a beauty product, but is a symbol of affirming their gender (Mazzeti, 2022).

Mascara is also seen as a defiance of societal beauty standards. For a long time, mascara and other beauty products have become associated with beauty standards. There has been a swift change in the community, and many seek to change this perception of beauty (Marasca, 2020). The outsider can use mascara to understand society's struggle concerning beauty standards better. They can use it to comprehend better what beauty in society means and why there is a tussle among society concerning what is considered beautiful. This can also help to explain the economic shift and impacts that mascara and other beauty products have on society (Mazzeti, 2022).

Relation Between Mascara and My Field of Study

Mascara relates to my field of study with regard to its use in the community. My discipline involves an understanding of the community and various aspects that impact it. While several issues affect society, there are few that are as contentious as gender politics, which have ravaged the nation since the turn of the new millennium. Finances and economics have also affected societal dynamics (Radi et al., 2022). This means it is impossible to fully understand societal issues without reviewing the role that mascara and other beauty products play.

As a student in the field of sociology, it is essential to understand society from different aspects. Mascara presents a new lens through which a person can look at society. It allows me to understand society and how it works and gives me a fresh take on the issues that affect society. Sun Zu, the famous war strategist, once stated that if you know your enemy and yourself, you need not fear the result of a thousand battles (Tzu, 2008). In the battle for solving societal problems, understanding the problem is critical. This is why understanding the issue of mascara is vital.

Strategies to Use Critical Analysis to Meet my Personal and Professional Goals

This critical analysis provides knowledge on societal issues that many neglect. This analysis helps to provide insights into the issue and the appropriate ways to solve them (Radi et al., 2022). These insights also help outsiders look at complicated issues in a different light. Perception in problem-solving is critical, as it helps to ensure that a problem is properly attended to. The recommended strategy to meet my professional goal is to use this research to enlighten others concerning mascara's role. The goal is to use this research to understand societal issues, such as gender politics, to find proper solutions.

References

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?.

Radi, A. E. R. S., Renata, S., & Laurenzo, A. O. (2022, June). A Critical Discourse Analysis on Lily by Tsana Beauty Product Advertisements. In  English Language and Literature International Conference (ELLiC) Proceedings (Vol. 5, pp. 193-203).

Tzu, S. (2008). The art of war. In  Strategic Studies (pp. 63-91). Routledge.

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, 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.

2-2 Activity Topic Introduction

Southern New Hampshire University

November 6, 2022

The cosmetic industry is a billion-dollar industry with a long and complicated history. Its roots can be traced back to Ancient Greece when women would use natural ingredients to beautify themselves. Over time, the industry grew and changed, and today, cosmetic products are widely available and used by people of all ages (Sickler, 2022). One popular cosmetic product that is widely used is mascara. Mascara is used to making the eyes look larger and more open, and it can also be used to create a false lash effect. Mascara is available in a variety of colors, and it can be used to create a variety of looks.

Mascara represents a popular culture that is popular with women. The population that engages with this area of popular culture is typically women. The mascara industry is marketed to women and typically contains products that are designed to enhance the appearance of the eyelashes. The larger global society has impacted mascara in a few ways. For one, the popularity of natural beauty products has led to an increase in the use of natural mascara formulas. Mascara has also been impacted by popular culture. For example, the rise of the “big eye” look in the 1990s saw an increase in the popularity of volumizing mascaras (Bazaar, 2020).

Additionally, the trend for fuller and darker eyelashes has led to the development of more intense mascaras that can create a more dramatic look. One reason that cosmetics became something so associated with women is that women have traditionally been more concerned about their looks than men. Women have been socialized to care about their appearance, and they have been taught to believe that their looks are important (Britton, 20212). The general education interdisciplinary lens for analyzing mascara and the cosmetic industry was easy to choose because it is a lens that I have been interested in for a while. Additionally, this lens allows for a more in-depth analysis of the topic than the other lenses that were available.

However, I would have liked to have had more lenses available to choose from to explore different aspects of the cosmetic industry. Mascara is commonly used in the cosmetic industry and is often seen as a necessary part of everyday life. The population is growing increasingly interested in the cosmetic industry and its products, which in turn has led to an increase in the sale of mascara. Societal situations such as the high rates of female unemployment and the rise of unrealistic beauty standards have led more women to turn to mascara as a means of improving their appearance. The use of a general education interdisciplinary lens allows for a more in-depth understanding of the ways in which mascara has been used and abused throughout history.

Reference

1-2 Activity: Lens Exploration

This research will investigate diversity by concentrating on the lack of men in the cosmetics sector. Recently, the lack of male models in beauty advertising sent the paradoxical notion that men could not use any product that was not specifically marketed to them or packaged in a "masculine" way. Men have only lately appeared in classic beauty advertising, following the cosmetics industry's acceptance of diversity and inclusivity (Peng, 2021).

From a historical perspective, I would write about social media's beginnings and how it gave users a new area where they could be themselves and were inspired by other producers, which encouraged them to explore their own creativity. The topic's importance has changed as a result of men's increased acceptance in the beauty industry and the acceptance of men using a range of cosmetic products.

To take a humanities approach, the acceptance of men who choose to wear makeup has changed modern society. The increased dialogue around men's use of beauty products has altered public opinions in the business, making it more inclusive. There was a lot of talk about toxic masculinity, and how it has kept men from trying out areas traditionally reserved for women, for a long time. Putting whatever one pleases on one's face in order to feel more beautiful is now a common practice, giving many individuals an opportunity to express themselves via cosmetics.

Scientific discovery, through the use of the natural and applied sciences, might reveal whether or not an increase in the number of men who use makeup affected viewership (Johnson, 2021). In other words, if a business X includes men in its next ad campaign, it will increase its male customer base by Y percent. It is possible that different people have different emotional ties to this topic, but I think that a subjective approach would still lead to the same results. In recent years, we have seen an uptick in the number of cosmetics companies catering to males who use makeup, which has inspired more men to become involved in the business. Personal witnessing of this phenomenon has affected attitudes but has had no discernible impact on results.

From the perspective of the social sciences, there is a wide range of individuals impacted by this issue, including those who create these goods and ads and others who have traditionally been excluded from the beauty society (such as males). As a result of the movement, businesses in what had been an all-male field had to make an effort to become more inclusive. Given the potential for more openness and honesty in communication, this may have repercussions for personal relationships. People were able to connect over shared interests and learn more about themselves as a result. The issue is also relevant to social systems and structures since it altered the public's perception of cosmetics and makeup at the time and compelled the beauty industry to adopt new trends (Jalba, 2018).

References.

Jalba, R. (2018). If and how are Instagram's top male makeup influencers shifting the beauty norms & beauty representations in a female oriented industry.

Johnson, C., & Cindy, J. (2021). Diversity in Beauty. In The Society of Cosmetic Chemists. 75th Annual Scientific Meeting & Showcase (pp. 7-8).

Peng, A. Y. (2021). A techno-feminist analysis of beauty app development in China’s high-tech industry. Journal of Gender Studies, 30(5), 596-608.