Red lips against the patriarchy

I saw an Instagram reel recently that piqued my interest. The reel explained a certain trend in America at the moment regarding red lipstick in connection to women's right to their own body and in general women's rights. The woman in the reel explained the trend and how red lipstick had been a form of protest for a long time.

Naturally I did my own research, I will post the link I found at the bottom of the writing.

Red lipstick as a fashion statement.

If you think of red lips, you may think of bold fashion statements and celebrities like Taylor Swift who often wears it. But red lip stick has been around for centuries. A recent discovery of a conjuction what could be a nowadays recipe for red lipstick was found in a 4000 year old vial from Iran proves that. There is other evidence that historical figures such as Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I and of course in recent history Marilyn Monroe wore red lip stick.

Red lipstick and the connection to witchcraft

During the middle ages red lipstick got a more wicked allure. During the reign of Elizabeth I it was still condoned as she herself was religious whilst also loving the allure of red lips.

When the reign of Elizabeth I was over and her successor James I took the throne and started his reign societal fears of witchcraft started spreading.

By 1770 there was a law that stated that women lured men into marriage they otherwise would not agree to by wearing red lipstick and could therefore be tried as witch.

Red lipstick as a rebellious statement

In the early 20th century you had the Suffragette movement in both the UK and the US. The Suffragette movement fought for women’s right to vote. Elizabeth Arden, a beauty entrepreneur inspired women to wear red lipstick as a bold statement of courage as she distributed lipstick tubes during a 1912 protest.
During WW II factory work rooms were stocked with red lip sticks to boost morale.

so red lipstick is more than a bold fashion statement. It is a symbol of the fight for women's rights.

Source: Instagram reel and https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/history-of-red-lipstick#:~:text=Red%20lipstick%20took%20on%20new,the%20fight%20for%20women's%20rights.