By Heather A.
The opinions expressed here and other places around the internet are mine and do not reflect those of my employer, family, friends, inanimate objects that may become sentient, or plants.
I guess there’s been some BookTube drama recently. From what I gather, an older male YouTuber criticized some lady YouTubers on how much makeup they wear (or were specifically wearing at BEA) and how it is unbecoming of someone who reads. (Please also keep in mind that I neither watch many BookTubers or have actually seen the video in question, my opinion shouldn’t mean much if someone reading this was looking for hard facts or info on the video.)
I do, however, have opinions on wearing makeup and reading books. Here they are: I love makeup and I love books! I am an unconfirmed book hoarder and I just recently got a Sephora rewards card–the temptation! I can’t leave the house without a book and eyeliner. The concepts of liking books and liking makeup are not mutually exclusive. If anything, they go fairly well together. The attention to detail, color coordination, and general artistry of applying makeup is seen all over the bookish community –have you browsed #Bookstagram? Those pictures are pure art!
Wearing makeup does not mean the person who wears it is shallow. That common misconception needs to die. I’m sure that is what the video was ultimately about. Makeup makes you dumb and reading makes you smart. It’s so easy to create a binary where these worlds exist. Let me just offer this quote:
Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
–Walt Witman “Song of Myself”
I decided to title this post “I Contain Multitudes,” because a person should not be defined by what they read or what they put on their face. They are valuable for their ability to have various interests, passions, and knowledge. A person who reads does not have to fit into a stereotype of mild and introverted (and non-makeup wearing, apparently), nor does a person who is extroverted have to be loud and wear makeup.
You can wear makeup if you want. If you don’t wear makeup and read books, that is great. If you wear makeup and you read books, that’s great, too. There’s no one way to live! You can do whatever the f*ck you want and still read a ton of books.
-End Rant
Around the World in 80 Books 