5 Things #FebruaryFaceOff2016 Stands For
We're heading into Week 2 for #FebruaryFaceOff2016, and I am thrilled by the response. Of course, it's never enough for me though! I started this four years ago, and I want this to explode (in a good way!).
As a high school teacher, many students cringe at the thought of baring their natural faces on social media. And, it's important I re-iterate that it's not an Anti-Makeup Campaign. In case you've been hearing about February Face Off and are still not sure whether or not you should participate, let me be specific about what February Face Off stands for:
1. Self Love
Obviously, I started February Face Off to push my girls in Girls Club at Franklin High School to love themselves. They had to look within themselves sin-make-up and really ask themselves "What is it that I love about me?". I have had students talk to me and tell me it was very stressful for them at first. It was a major step for them to really show their acne scars.
To show their natural eyebrows.
To show blush-less cheeks.
And at first, they would ask themselves "What do I love about myself...?" and by the end of the month it turned to, "Why wouldn't I love this about myself!" Hearing other women push for themselves gives this sense of acceptance. You see other women, who aren't very different from yourself and they are confident and flawed, and you realize, "We all should love ourselves more!"
(image courtesy giphy.com)
2. Anti-Beauty Standards
Tess Holliday started the #EffYourBeautytandards campaign, and for me personally, it's been a journey to un-learn everything that I'm supposed to value about myself.
We are taught to be flawless.
We are taught to not have scars.
To not have wrinkles.
Acne.
To not have gray hair.
To not have fat.
I could continue on and on with what I am not supposed to be and unfortunately I am. And why should I hold myself responsible for things that naturally occur within my body. Because media tells me to? Because advertising tells me I should be more and I'm not good enough? February Face Off is for pushing your own standards for yourself as opposed to holding up other people's standards as your own.
3. Looking Past Skin Deep Beauty
I asked a classroom of students what is some of the worst things you can tell a woman. And I would say 70% of the responses had to do with appearance.
"You're fat."
"You're ugly."
"You look anorexic."
And then I asked them for compliments they would tell a woman. And they were along the lines of:
"You're beautiful."
"You have beautiful eyes."
"Your smile is brilliant."
And while I love hearing these things, this type of talk trained me to only value myself based on my appearance. One of the biggest compliments someone could give me was "Wow! Are you losing weight? You look great!" Well, my lifestyle and my career and family choices have limited me in really taking care of my weight. And for now, that's not my priority. But I guarantee, when it does become my priority, it will be my choice, not someone else's. I do not want to be valued for my looks or my body, and we should stop telling anybody that this is what we value them for.
February Face Off tells people to look past skin deep values, and appreciate someone's sense of humor. Appreciate someone's intelligence. Someone's personality. We forget that those things don't fade. Those things don't wrinkle. And yet we don't value those qualities as much as we should.
4. Gender Equality
February Face Off is calling for boys and men to participate. And it's great seeing those few who have taken on the challenge. And it's important that we understand those few men will be challenged for their masculinity. Their manliness will be questioned.
By friends.
By peers.
By family.
February Face Off is about self acceptance. It's pushing to create a world where it is not deemed to be less humane to have feminine features. It is not deemed to be un-manly to have womanly qualities.
I feel the conversation about gender equality is sometimes non-inclusive, even though it's not on purpose. But this discussion that so many anti-feminists have about women being butch and not good enough is also reflective within men who may show their emotions more than others. Who may cry at the Lion King every time. Who may enjoy Pride & Prejudice more than their girlfriends. Who may want to put on eyeliner every now and then and enhance their cheekbones.
February Face Off is just as much for them as it is for women.
5. Human Values
It's okay for a woman to choose her career over her appearance, however it seems like it's expected for women to conquer it all. A woman who chooses her career over her appearance is labeled unfairly as lazy, power hungry, and plenty of other words that are quite frankly, generic.
February Face Off challenges people to look past the make-up, look past the weight, look past the body, and just accept the human being you are so privileged to encounter. Everybody has so many unique and great qualities and it is an honor to meet every single one of those people. However, the value of each person is depreciated based on appearance. February Face Off pushes to regain that value within each other and within ourselves.
So take the challenge! Take a stance with Mystique and with the Franklin High School Girls Club! Remember the great prizes and remember it's more than just anti-makeup. Let's make February Face Off go viral!!! Don't forget to share and don't forget to like!
