Confession time: I’m a shopaholic. Bags are my weakness. So are boots. I’m obsessed with dark washed jeans and oversize sunglasses and Rachel Bilson’s entire wardrobe.

Needless, to say I take the time to make outfits out of all of these clothes that I acquire. I read magazines and blogs and spend far too much time trying to find the perfect outfit for every occasion. So yes, I am a woman who often worries about her appearance, or at least the appearance of her clothes. And I’m not afraid to admit it, much to the disapproval of the likes of Sandra Bartky.

I first encountered this feminist writer in my Philosophy and Feminism class last semester, when reading her article, Foucault, Femininity, and the Modernization of Patriarchal Power. Bartky discusses the roles men and a male dominated society (i.e.: the patriarchal power), play in the way in which women portray themselves. Women, she claims, feel as though they are constantly being watched by a male power and as a result, we feel it necessary to take part in this “beautification process” society has thrust upon us.

The process of beautification, she claims, is insignificant. It is a practice women take part in only because they feel they have to. Women, Bartky claims, feel as though they must always look perfect, as though they must always strive for the ideal. They are never good enough, but always reaching, always working in an attempt to please that nonexistent gazer. From waxing our eyebrows to straightening our hair, its all for someone else. And by conceding, Bartky explains, the patriarchy remains in control. Men continue to have the power.

Bartky believes that by worrying about our appearance, we’re submitting to someone else’s idea of beauty. She thinks we’re molding ourselves into an ideal that someone else, specifically a man, has put forth as the standard of beauty. She believes that with every swipe of mascara, or splurge on this season’s boots, we are allowing ourselves to be made inferior. We are reinforcing everything feminists have fought against.

I beg to differ.

Now let’s put aside the fact that men feel just as much pressure as women to look a certain way. Let’s put aside the media’s role in all of this. And let’s overlook the fact that there is no one true idea of beauty because all over the world, different cultures and countries have different beauty ideals. Just ask Jessica Simpson.

But like I said, let’s put all that aside. Let’s instead focus on what looking your best can do for you. You’ve seen how much a makeover can change a person. From Clueless to What Not to Wear, it’s a proven fact.  To some, beautification is a means of oppression. But for those who enjoy it, for those who do not feel oppressed by it, who do not claim to be behaving a certain way for anyone other than themselves, is it right to tell them that they are being oppressed? Can women as a group make that decision for women as individuals? And what about personal style? We don’t all walk around in matching outfits. Women make choices about their clothes. They are a means of expression, a way of telling the world who we are. The “beautification process,” as Bartky calls it, does not have to be a means of giving men control, but it can be a way of taking control back.

Statements like “What’s on the outside really does matter” and “You’re judged on your appearance” are generally not met with much support. Because what’s inside does count. If you can’t hold a decent conversation, if you don’t stand out as an individual, if you aren’t a genuine person, what you wear will no longer matter. So those people, who believe that outward appearance is all that matters, are wrong. But I’m not talking about weight or beauty or expensive clothes, or the picture perfect, but entirely unrealistic, image the media plasters all over magazines and billboards. I’m simply talking about dressing to be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be.

First impressions are more often than not determined by looks, especially in the post college world. Dressing appropriately for a job interview? That’s important. Not just for women, but for men too. If you’re at a networking event, is your possible employer more likely to chat with the girl in the pinstripe pants or the girl in the sweatpants with their college logo down their right leg? Similarly, the man in a suit is more likely to get the job than the man who shows up to the interview in a t-shirt and jeans.

To an extent, society does dictate the way we dress. Appearances do matter sometimes. But this is not a struggle between male and female power. In fact, it does not have to be a power struggle at all. You should never dress for someone else, or wear something you are not comfortable with. But you should explore the world of fashion and the world of beauty. Find a style that makes you feel comfortable and helps you to stand out in a good way. If it’s all about the power then take that power back and use it to your advantage.

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