According to Avon’s research, a significant number of women face pressure or control from their partners regarding their appearance. The study indicates that 20% of women report their spouses interfering with their makeup choices, and 15% state that they apply makeup to conceal violence inflicted by their partners.
Based on research conducted in collaboration between Avon and NO MORE, makeup for women is found to symbolize not only beauty but also the ongoing struggle against pressure and violence.
The study indicates that one-fifth (20%) of women experience pressure from their partners when it comes to makeup choices. Notably, women aged 25 to 34 (34%) report feeling controlled by their partners in matters related to makeup. Additionally, the research reveals that one in six women (15%) uses makeup to conceal marks left by their partners.
This research, launched by Avon in conjunction with the UN’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, captures the perspectives of 7,173 women in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, and South Africa. It underscores the significant impact of coercive control on women through the manipulation of their appearance by male partners.
Around two-fifths (39%) of the surveyed women indicate that roughly half of their friends have witnessed their appearance being influenced or controlled by a partner. Among those women, 27% mention that they refrained from intervening in such situations, believing they lacked the right to do so.
In general, the research underscores the importance of fostering more open conversations about these forms of violence and encouraging women to guide their loved ones towards seeking support.
Impact and Control on Physical Appearance
Avon’s research also sheds light on how women perceive the influence of their partners on other aspects of their physical appearance. Just over a quarter of women (26%) state that their partners often influence what they wear. Similarly, a bit more than a fifth of women (21%) mention that their partners frequently influence their hairstyles.
Intervention in Clothing Choices Most Common in Turkey
Women across various age groups, partaking in the Turkish segment of the study, share similar responses. According to the research, 31% of women in Turkey claim to spend between 670 TL and 1000 TL monthly on makeup, while 28% allocate a budget below this figure. In Turkey, 20% of women report doing makeup five days a week, while 5% state that they never wear makeup. Of those who wear makeup, 58% feel more confident.
For the question, “Due to something your partner said or did, which makeup items have you completely or temporarily stopped using?” the most common response, at 24%, is “brightly colored lipstick.” In response to the question, “Have you ever used makeup to conceal an injury inflicted by your partner?” 18% of participants answered ‘yes.’ The research findings also indicate that spouses primarily intervene in women’s clothing choices (41%), with 31% mentioning interference in hairstyles and haircuts.
Makeup as Empowerment
Avon’s recent research not only underscores how makeup can be wielded as a form of dominance and control but also delves into its positive and empowering aspects when women are in control. Nearly half of women (46%) express that makeup is crucial in making them feel secure. More specifically, one in four women (24%) feels empowered by lipstick, and almost one in five women (17%) applies makeup every day.