🐱 Women Want to Keep Wearing Masks to Deflect the Male Gaze

Some Women Want to Keep Wearing Masks to Deflect the Male Gaze

Between the two extremes of the recent mask debates—continuing to wear a mask after being fully vaccinated is good, because it signals that we care about other people; wearing a mask is bad, because public health experts have said it’s no longer necessary outdoors and we should follow...

jezebel.com

Between the two extremes of the recent mask debates—continuing to wear a mask after being fully vaccinated is good, because it signals that we care about other people; wearing a mask is bad, because public health experts have said it’s no longer necessary outdoors and we should follow science—lies a vast middle ground, which I would venture most of us occupy.

People have all sorts of complex reasons for wearing or not wearing a mask post-vaccination, ranging from from the medical to the practical to the mundane. (I still have a couple of weeks until I’m fully protected against the virus, but I’ve been thinking about how useful a mask is for covering up an unfortunate zit.) Some women have told the Guardian that they are loath to give up theirs because it helps deflect the male gaze.

“I don’t want to feel the pressure of smiling at people to make sure everyone knows I’m ‘friendly’ and ‘likable’,” a 44-year-old woman named Aimee told the outlet, calling her mask a symbol of “emotional freedom.”

“It’s almost like taking away the male gaze,” she continued. “There’s freedom in taking that power back.”

Another woman, 25-year-old Becca Marshalla, said wearing a mask similarly relieves her of having to perform emotional labor (actual emotional labor!) at the Chicago bookstore where she works. “Oftentimes when a customer is being rude or saying off-color political things, I’m not allowed to grimace or ‘make a face’ because that will set them off,” she said. “With a mask, I don’t have to smile at them or worry about keeping a neutral face. I have had customers get very upset when I don’t smile at them.”

G/O Media may get a commission
Marshalla said she and her coworkers also appreciate the masks for the anonymity they offer them on and off the job: She told the Guardian that aggressive anti-maskers are common at the bookstore, and she’d rather them not recognize her when she’s walking around the city. Other people told the outlet that the masks help with: feeling safer amid the wave of anti-Asian violence; being misgendered in public; and dealing with their body dysmorphia.

“Simply put,” one woman said, “I’m sick of being perceived.”


I’ll probably stop wearing my mask outside once I’m fully inoculated and it becomes too hot to be comfortable. But I’ll continue to carry it on me: It’s always great to have an extra line of defense against being perceived.

 

[Fareal]

What kind of idiot doesn't buy it a couple of sizes up for them to grow into in the first place?

Trousers can be an issue. Mine are skinny with long gangly legs, so they always need the waists taken in to get proper leg length, and then they outgrow the legs but not the waist and the cycle begins again. Honestly I have them in dresses a lot of the time because there’s quite a bit more growth room in the fit. Shorts are a fit disaster zone, so cartwheel shorts under a dress is just easier all round.

Boys t shirts are definitely a more kid-friendly fit, and my kids are interested in such exceptionally masculine things as, er, Paw Patrol and dinosaurs, so they have a fair number of boys t shirts anyway. I try to get them for the summer especially, since the longer sleeves give much better sun coverage for shoulders/tops of arms. Those tiny cap sleeves on girl t shirts annoy the fuck out of me and are a bitch to iron, too.

 

[George Floyd Sneed]

The type of women who read Jezebel and take it seriously are the type of women that should definitely wear a face mask year-round but it’s not because of the male gaze. I’d suggest a burqa too but at their size, a circus tent is better sized for them.

 

[NoReturn]

No we fucking don't.

 

[Celebrate Nite]

Her makeup game must have been on point.

Her makeup game was non-existent.... no eyeshadow, or mascaras, or any other face paint. I stayed over her place many times and saw her morning routine and it never involved any of the typical women shit.

 

[George Floyd Sneed]

I also agree that women into their 40s can still look amazing. Often comes down to how well they reject the standard American diet, which makes everyone fat and ugly. Adults in their 40s can still be very attractive if they take care of themselves, as long as you reject corn and soy of course.

 

[ColtWalker1847]

I think "emotional labor" is a service industry thing. Sometimes, you don't want to smile at customers who are complete and utter assholes. It's your job to smile and be polite and chipper, even to the worst jags, but damn, keeping that smile plastered on your face all day sucks. Masks allow you to smile with your eyes, and curse under your breath with no one being the wiser.

If the hardest part of your job is being pleasant and attentive to customers you have an easy job.

 

[OrionBalls]

If the hardest part of your job is being pleasant and attentive to customers you have an easy job.

The hardest part is the actual work. Smiling at idiots who claim to know the owner is just part of the job. A small pain in the ass alleviated by wearing a mask.

 

[737 MAX Stan Account]

By all means, it'll make sorting out the crazies that much easier.

 

[Drag-on Knight 91873]

Says you. There's plenty of 40 year olds that haven't hit the wall that look NICE.

My last ex was one of them. I was 30 and she was 46, but she looked like she was still in her 20's minus the hair length (it was shoulder blade length, not butt length like it was in her 20's). Completely fooled my parents. Apparently she just took really good care of her skin with creams and shit.

What kind of cream did she use and did you contribute?

 

[Celebrate Nite]

What kind of cream did she use and did you contribute?

1. Yes, but she was a swallower, so it wasn't often it got on her skin.
2. Fuck if I remember. All I know is that she got her shit from Target. I wanna say it's this shit but I could be wrong. I just remember it being in a green and beige color tube

What I DO remember is that as soon as we became a couple, she gave me one of these things to start using and to only use it when I took a shower. The shit that came out of the tube looked like wet cement and felt just as rough, but according to her it would make my skin look just as good as hers.

 

[Quantum Diabetes]

So they want us to just stare at their ass and tits, but not their face?

Yep

 

[NJBear]

Women Want to Keep Wearing Masks to Deflect the Male Gaze​

Gonna wear a mask on your ass?

 

[DoNotReadTheFinePrint]

If the "male gaze" is so evil wear a burka.

I don’t want to feel the pressure of smiling at people

Just don't smile but don't bitch about people instantly disliking you because you look like you want to murder someone. Smiling at someone while talking with them has something to do with politeness and respect and not with being a "pleasant woman". But I guess those are all characteristics this woman lacks.

perform emotional labor (actual emotional labor!) at the Chicago bookstore where she works.

Get a different job. Why do the most emotional fragile people go into customer service?

As a whole this "male gaze" shit is honestly annoying. If a woman walks around like a (attention) whore, she shouldn't be surprised if people give her attention. Besides, if the tits are about to jump out of the shirt, everyone stares no matter the gender because it clearly shows 1.) the chosen clothes are too small and 2.) the woman's got no taste since she walks around like a pressed sausage.

But, honestly, those women complaining about the "male gaze" are usually ugly and/or bitches with a god awful personality, who will neither get cat-called, gazes upon nor fucked by any self-respecting guy. For them it's just wishful thinking and envy of other prettier women.

 

[Trust Me I Know]

Jokes on them. I don't stare at them because I'm male. I stare at them because they're extremely autistic.

 

[Mr. Bung]

Anyone who seriously uses the phrase "emotional labor" is most likely an asshole.

"I have (X) or I have (X) issues and this gives me a free pass to be an asshole to everyone."

 

[Unpaid Emotional Labourer]

Well this actually could be good for women whose “shall I preserve my face or my ass?” decision is to save the latter, a mask could actually conceal their age and get them more positive attention.

 

[Evil Enchilada]

I'll have you know that women in masks are my fetish

 

[Billy Beer]

They can keep the masks on, it makes the fugly cunts look better

 

[NoSpiceLife]

I hate to break it to the 44 year old woman, but at that age, there is no male gaze. As an old lady myself, I can guarantee you that no men (except maybe a few 70 year olds) are lusting after a 44 year old woman. Sure, there are rare exceptions if she has taken good care of herself -- but most of us are practically invisible at that age. Now she just has an excuse for why they aren't checking her out.

I hate to break it to you, but you must be run into the ground, and as ugly as fuck to consider 44 an 'old lady'.

Maybe it's just Aussies, and everyone else really are ugly as fuck!

The most attractive women, don't wear makeup, they have no need to turn themselves into someone else. Unlike these fuglys who's personalities override any hope that someone might find them attractive.

That last 'woman' is definitely a troon.

 

[Crazedking]

Brave and stunning of them to start wearing the burka willingly instead of being beat silly by their husband if they dont.