Ethic of discomfort: is asking for nude lipstick racist?

Abstract

Teaching about culturally embedded racism can be difficult. Developing concepts to reframe deeply inscribed racial beliefs and attitudes is one necessary step, but illustrating cultural racism can be even more important. Effective examples invite behavioural change and significantly improved understanding. Lipstick and nail polish practices are commonly naturalised by many Western young women as normal and desirable, simply matters of individual and private choice. However, challenging students about using terms such as ‘nude’ or ‘skin-coloured’ raises both conceptual and personal behavioural aspects of cultural racism. Students resistant or indifferent to the idea that racism in Australia is significant or relevant today, and personally sure they are not racist, can be drawn deeper into class discussion via the question posed in this article’s title. Challenging these highly personal practices by reframing what they mean, almost literally (not quite) gets under students’ skin, their self-certainty is disturbed and learning can begin.

Keywords:

• Cultural racism
• ethic of discomfort
• nail-polish
• nude lipstick
• teaching race
• whiteness theory