Image: Nesster Sometimes a word or phrase (or, of course, set of initials for when you tire of forming words - YOLO) you haven't seen before begins to pop up everywhere. You notice it a couple of times but think it unimportant. Then it pops up more and you start to wonder what it is. But, like, not enough to Google it or anything. Then it becomes shorthand for something and finally you find yourself suddenly questioning: WHAT IS THIS NORMCORE?! Oh, it's an "emerging cultural trend". A trend in which you blend in. You're so normal that you are the core of normality and, by extension, anonymity. Although to be anonymous you have to wear one of those masks. There is a whiff of the self congratulatory about Normcore and the wiped clean faces that apparently come with it. Oh don't mind me, I just don't bother with anything frivolous - and for frivolous re: femme.
I've written on several occasions about how feminine is often seen as a negative. Something to separate yourself from. It has some how connected itself to sexism. As I mentioned yesterday there are women who will dismiss sexism as banter, a bit of fun and nothing personal. 'Oh I don't bother getting het up over sexism, it's just a laugh'. Not only is she saying she's not bothered by harassment and abuse but she's differentiating herself from those women who make a fuss. By essentially becoming apolitical she makes herself easy to work with - there are no consequences for bad behaviour here.
It's the same with femme and femininity (which are not interchangeable but often lumped together).
Particularly in feminist circles. Rather than just silently disregarding the application of cosmetics by other people I often hear women announcing that they don't care about make up, they don't care about how they look. But they do care that we are aware they shun self adornment. As though those who wear make up or pay attention to how they look somehow have no room in their head for other subjects or concerns.
Actress Helen McCrory, who played Barbara Villiers (look her up, seriously) in Charles II The Power & The Passion has recently joined in on the dismissal of women who worry about looks and ageing: "I just think: 'Sorry love, but you've obviously got too much time on your hands'".
It's the same with femme and femininity (which are not interchangeable but often lumped together).
Particularly in feminist circles. Rather than just silently disregarding the application of cosmetics by other people I often hear women announcing that they don't care about make up, they don't care about how they look. But they do care that we are aware they shun self adornment. As though those who wear make up or pay attention to how they look somehow have no room in their head for other subjects or concerns.
Actress Helen McCrory, who played Barbara Villiers (look her up, seriously) in Charles II The Power & The Passion has recently joined in on the dismissal of women who worry about looks and ageing: "I just think: 'Sorry love, but you've obviously got too much time on your hands'".
| McCrory credits her parents with not encouraging any physical hang ups: "Things like that just didn't fucking matter! So many women are obsessed with their age and how they look." | Older women that you do see (that you are allowed to see) are praised for preserving themselves |
But is it a case of too much time and vain self indulgence developing into an anxiety? Ignoring any connotations of the fresh faced virgin Vs the painted whore that this whole argument hangs upon when discussing whether bare faced women are more worthy, why are some women so anxious to differentiate themselves from those who openly fear ageing?
With various women of a certain age being axed from the BBC and often disappearing from the media once they reach middle age is it so silly to concern oneself about ageing? It just doesn't do to blend in, to age is to disappear. Women can't afford Normcore.
You don't see very many older women in popular culture at all. In pop Madonna and Kylie have the looks and figures of someone half their age - so they're in, they can stay, but they are exceptions. Older women that you do see (that you are allowed to see) are praised for preserving themselves or ridiculed for voicing opinion - such as Mary Beard.
A report that came out in September last year found that despite being healthier and more accomplished in their 50s ad 60s than ever before they still face barriers. Labour's Commission on Older Women found that
"unemployment among women aged 50-64 rose 41% in two-and-a-half years, compared with 1% overall" and warned of "double discrimination" based on gender and age.
So forgive these silly women for buying anti-wrinkle creams and powdering their faces. They're just playing the game as much as those who dismiss them are.
Squeamish Kate
With various women of a certain age being axed from the BBC and often disappearing from the media once they reach middle age is it so silly to concern oneself about ageing? It just doesn't do to blend in, to age is to disappear. Women can't afford Normcore.
You don't see very many older women in popular culture at all. In pop Madonna and Kylie have the looks and figures of someone half their age - so they're in, they can stay, but they are exceptions. Older women that you do see (that you are allowed to see) are praised for preserving themselves or ridiculed for voicing opinion - such as Mary Beard.
A report that came out in September last year found that despite being healthier and more accomplished in their 50s ad 60s than ever before they still face barriers. Labour's Commission on Older Women found that
"unemployment among women aged 50-64 rose 41% in two-and-a-half years, compared with 1% overall" and warned of "double discrimination" based on gender and age.
So forgive these silly women for buying anti-wrinkle creams and powdering their faces. They're just playing the game as much as those who dismiss them are.
Squeamish Kate
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