The no-makeup-selfie has hit the Internet. It’s in support
of breast cancer awareness. I have to say, when it hit, I thought it was the
best one, yet. Let’s face it, the whole bra color and where your purse is at
the moment were really just a tease to men. That’s the reason I chose not to
participate in either of those. It didn’t raise awareness; it just piqued curiosity
and made men wonder what women were up to.
I recently read something posted by a breast cancer
survivor. She states that it isn’t brave for women to go without makeup and
post it for everyone to see. She sees it as a slap in the face of those who’ve
survived cancer. I respectfully choose to disagree with her statements. I do
see it as a form of support. By my way of thinking, most women who are going
through chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation treatments probably don’t feel much
like using their energy reserves to don their face covering on a daily basis.
At least, that’s been my experience. Short of shaving our heads, going without
makeup for something that can be seen over and over is a pretty solid way of
saying we support you, Ladies.
While there are many women who go without makeup every day,
there are those who cannot and will not go without. I am in love with my
makeup. In my purse are seven different shades of lipstick, two shades of
liner, and extra mascara. I do NOT like to be seen without my makeup. I have
many friends who feel the same way. Southern women are even more likely to struggle
with this form of support, which makes it so strong to me. We are taught to not
even go to the store without lipstick and mascara at a minimum. It’s just a
thing. A thing we do.
Most of us do not have first-hand experience going through
cancer. We don’t know the pain felt and haven’t experienced the sickness women
feel from all the chemicals being forced into their bodies. We can’t know the
horror, fear, worry, stress, and despair women feel when they get that unwanted
diagnosis. But, we do what we can. We support our friends through it. We hold
their hands. We fix meals. We call, write, text, drop in, and cry with our sick
sisters. We love, we show support, we raise funds, and, we post selfies with no
makeup. You go, Ladies. Be brave and be bare.
