A Japanese rail company has recently released a series of code of conduct videos attempting to dissuade passengers from certain types of behaviour. One video, for instance, aims to stop people from walking down platforms looking at their smartphones. Another highlights how inappropriate it is to board heaving trains with massive bags. A third told women that putting on makeup aboard a train is ugly.
Doesn’t quite fit, does it?
Released in September, the video opens with the statement: ‘Women in the city are all beautiful. But they are ugly to see, at times’. As reported by the BBC, the short film depicts two women on a train calmly putting on makeup before being monumentally ticked off for it by the actress Sawa Nimura. It ends with the announcement: ‘Please refrain from putting on makeup on the trains’.
Kind of unbelievable, isn’t it?
Rail company, Tokyu corp, told the BBC the videos’ themes arose from a survey – conducted by the Association of Japanese Private Railways – which assessed various passenger gripes. We can therefore assume that lots of people took (and take) umbrage to women putting on makeup on trains. (There would have to have been ‘lots’ of people if this ‘problem’ warranted it’s own video, right?) Who these people are, we don’t know. We could assume they’re men but that would be sexist. So we’re just left with the issue at hand…
There is something very ironic about it, I’ve been thinking. And it’s this: women don’t like applying makeup on trains. Given a choice, I’m pretty certain most would rather apply it in the privacy of their own homes with the good lighting and that friendly mirror. Trains wobble and tilt and trying to draw a perfect line of eyeliner on your eyelid without poking yourself in the eye is nigh-on impossible.
Why do we do it then? Well, some of us don’t have time to apply makeup at home. We’re ever more busy and sticking to our schedules relies heavily on us being able to do things on the go – eat, drink and yes, apply makeup. The 40 minutes we spend on the train en route to work is a perfect window of opportunity to dab on a spot of foundation… whereas getting up 40 minutes earlier to do it at home seems nonsensical and a waste of time. So we do it on the tube, the bus, the train. We’re not harming other passengers and let’s face it, it’s really no different to tying our hair up or putting on, say, a hat…
Except apparently it is. Why that is, I just don’t understand. I mean, yes, if someone was puffing their blusher up into a rouged powder cloud which then dispersed and fogged someone’s white winter jacket – yes, that would be fairly annoying. Or if someone smudged in foundation and then smeared their hand all over the seat – yes, that’d be infuriating for the next person sitting there. But I’ve never seen either of these things happen. In fact, I’ve just invented those scenarios because I don’t know of any real ones I can cite. Put simply, I can’t think of any situation where I’ve found someone applying make-up on a train disrespectful, ill-mannered, damaging in some way to me or other passengers, or anything bad AT ALL.
There is one solution to this sitch, of course: not to wear makeup. But what am I saying? As the video clearly points out, us women in the city are ‘ugly to see at times’ and must therefore do all we can to hide this ‘natural’ ugliness under layers and layers of make-up. Society dictates we wear it, so wear it we must…
Personally, I have to admit, I don’t apply makeup on trains. But that’s not because I think it’s unsightly; it’s because I’m a woman who’s ‘ugly to see’ all of the time and rarely bother to wear makeup. Those that do do it on transport I actually have huge respect for. Because there’s so much skill involved. The steady hand, the precise lines, that careful contouring … applying makeup on the move requires some mega artistic talent. The women who do it should be admired.
This is such a ridiculous topic to even be discussing. Preventing women from applying makeup on trains is about as stupid a ‘problem’ as I can think of. But look, some people clearly find it irksome. And so to them, I’d like to say this: save your ‘complaints’. Focus your attention on helping women be more confident in general so they no longer feel the need to wear makeup at all. That’ll solve your initial ‘problem’… and whole host of other ones too.
p.s.
I’m filing this copy from a train. And I can’t believe I’m writing this, but two women sitting across the aisle from me have – just this minute – started applying makeup. ON THE TRAIN. They’ve used the backs of the seats in front as supports for mirrors, and even though the ride is far from smooth, they’ve made themselves up beautifully. What skill. Ultimate respect, ladies.
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