Professor tells 20-year-old college student not to wear makeup in class, forbids her from reapplying lip balm during the lecture: 'She told me I’m distracting everyone'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Nov 20, 2024 8:00 PM EST

One of the best things about going from high school to college is that your instructors really mind their own business. In high school, there is a nonzero chance that your nefarious male theatre teacher will make you change into pants from the costume closet because you committed the major transgression of wearing leggings to class. In college, most professors do not care a lick what you're wearing to class. As long as you don't arrive in your birthday suit, they probably won't bat an eye. 

Unfortunately, the professor in this tale is not your typical professor. She asked one of her female students to "see her after class" in front of all the other students. Instead of scolding her for cheating or asking why she hadn't turned in her work, she told her she shouldn't wear makeup to class and criticized her for applying balm to her chapped lips during the lecture. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10431011584
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Professor told me to not wear makeup
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    I am a junior in college. My data science professor called my name in the middle of class and told me she needed to see me after class. When I went to see her she told me to stop wearing makeup and that when I reapply it during class I'm distracting everyone. I do wear some makeup but no eyeshadow or anything like that. I only reapply lip balm in class because my lips get dry. I sit next to my female friends and I've never noticed anyone ever looking at me. I feel extremely uncomfortable with wh
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    Edit: I can understand why she might think I am being r de by applying lip balm during her lecture and i will not do it again. but I am mostly offended by her saying I was distracting my classmates as I asked everyone in my row if I had ever distracted them or if they ever noticed me putting on lip balm and they said no. I think her saying I was distracting others was inappropriate.
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    Edit: I do not intend to escalate this until the end of the term. And yes, I am in the US, specifically the east coast and it is nearing winter and my lips and skin get extremely dry during this time.
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    ScarieltheMudmaid I would email her and recap your conversation as you understand it and then ask for permission to use chapstick/lipbalm and point out your lips get dry. THIS IS NOT FOR PERMISSION. This is simply so you can have written proof of the harassment she gave you. Once you have that you can take it to the dean of students, or ignore her and wait for her to f again and then send it to the dean of students.
    via u/ScarieltheMudmaid
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    Visual_Barnacle8159 OP "Hello Professor, I just wanted to address our earlier conversation and apologize if I had created any distractions for my classmates by applying makeup. Thank you for informing me and I will try to be more mindful in the future." does this sound good?
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    touchgrassffs I would clarify that it was lip balm (not even really makeup). I'm not sure I would even ask for permission. I would just clarify that you apologize for any distraction caused but you apply it as necessary because your lips get dry. Anyone seeing that email would see what a ridiculous comment that is from a professor.
    via u/touchgrassffs
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    Visual_Barnacle8159 OP just sent another email clarifying that it was lip balm!
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    trying_my_best- Do not apologize you have nothing to apologize for. "Hello professor, I wanted to address our earlier conversation about me wearing makeup in class. I do not reapply makeup in class but occasionally reapply lip balm because my lips tend to get dry. Is this something you would prefer me to get up and leave the classroom to do? Please let me know if there is something else I can do to resolve this issue or if leaving the classroom to reapply lip balm works. Thank you!" Short sweet
    via u/trying_my_best-
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    Aristotelian You think the professor is "harassing” her by asking her not to engage in an activity that she sees distracting others?
    via u/Aristotelian
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    ScarieltheMudmaid i think if a college professor asked her not to wear makeup to class it would be considered harassment, absolutely, doubly so since she states she wears just basic makeup. A very small amount of universities and colleges stray from the casual dress policy. I would like you to describe a way in which applying lip balm is distracting.
    via u/ScarieltheMudmaid
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    Aristotelian I feel that sentiment undermines real harassment. It certainly wouldn't be considered harassment in the real world, at least with these facts alone. Teachers and professors are well within their rights to ask students to stop engaging in any activities that are distracting others. Maybe people far away from her kept staring. Maybe she was doing more than she's admitting to here.
    via u/Aristotelian
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    ScarieltheMudmaid incorrect, that's like saying verbal abe isn't real ab e because no one got hurt, and if you were a manager and singled out a woman,told her specifically she couldn't wear makeup there would absolutely be a problem and likely a reaction you didn't enjoy. this is not aita, she's not asking for judgement, and no one cares that you just want to pass yours.go use something else to make you feel important
    via u/ScarieltheMudmaid
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    likeawolf This is so weird Imao I thought you were gonna say you pulled out your kit and were touching up your wings during her lectures which, while not illegal, would be a bit uncouth but lip balm?? Girl no one wants crunchy lips...who doesn't do this? Just keep doing what you're doing
    via u/likeawolf
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    kingkayvee You can absolutely ignore her and, if she brings it up again in any fashion, tell her that it is not appropriate. If she pushes back on any way whatsoever, this is the appropriate time to go to the ombudsperson and chair/head. No one should be telling you anything about this. Wear a full on glammed up look if you want. No self respecting professor should or would comment on that.
    via u/kingkayvee
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    LetCurrent8034 She's mad that you're a baddie?
    via u/LetCurrent8034
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    Visual_Barnacle8159 OP LOL this made me laugh
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    Amazing-Stranger8791 she told you putting lip balm on is distracting? there's something wrong with her i would just forget about what she said, maybe ask your friends around you if they find it distracting if you're really concerned. but i can't imagine how you'd have to be applying it for it to bother people
    via u/Amazing-Stranger8791
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    Visual_Barnacle8159 OP yeah. I am honestly so embarrassed because everyone heard her asking to see me after class and my friends asked me about it after. they said they've never even noticed me reapplying my lip balm and thought it was weird that she even said that.
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    Amazing-Stranger8791 she just sounds like a weirdo tbh maybe just put it on right before class and if anything go to the bathroom if you have to put it on again
    via u/Amazing-Stranger8791
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    idonthaveacow Women like her in STEM drive me nuts. You can be smart, hardworking and hot. Some women think that any form of femininity is weakness which is so sexist.
    via u/idonthaveacow
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    Abrene Some women see other women as a threat or look down on them. Especially women in a higher position within stem fields. Very weird behaviour all around. This is a deeper issue than mere lip balm.
    via u/Abrene
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    HappyLifeCoffeeHelps Write a follow-up email to her to review the discussion (it is actually for your personal records). Clarify that you use lip balm due to your lips getting chapped but that you'll do your best to only put it on before and after class. Ask for clarification on the direction to the policies regarding makeup and ask for clarification on what she means by you not wearing makeup and to let you know where the clarifying information on this is so that you can refer to it as you have
    via u/HappyLifeCoffeeHelps
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    Really, you are just writing it up for your records in case you need it. Also forward to your personal email that isn't associated with the school.
    via u/HappyLifeCoffeeHelps
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    Visual_Barnacle8159 OP okay I will do this
    via u/Visual_Barnacle8159
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    CordialCupcake21 i wear alt makeup looks everyday as a grad student. people have made comments before but honestly i just ignore them. your professor needs a reality check. the whole "your clothes/makeup/body is a distraction to others" trope is such a BS statement with baked in misogyny. especially in a lecture hall. like, how exactly could anyone be distracted? they aren't even looking at you. i'd report her to title ix if she tries to comment on your appearance again.
    via u/CordialCupcake21
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    MiniZara2 Agree with what everyone else is saying here. IF it's not a chemical lab. I assume you would have included that info if it was. But if it is, there could be a legit safety issue.
    via u/MiniZara2

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