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Simone de Beauvoir

The Accents of Her Ruby Lips

Annina Lehmann argues that wearing lipstick is a choice which shows that though we’re influenced by society, we can still make decisions about who we want to be.

Sit on a city train on a normal working day, say, nine o’clock in the morning. Some people will be reading newspapers, others will be listening to music. A woman will take out a mirror from her handbag and start putting on make-up: eyeliner, mascara, and finally, lipstick. She will purse her lips, try a smile, and then get off the train, ready to face the day.

The act of putting on lipstick is a daily routine for many women all around the world.

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