Friend calls 21-year-old teaching assistant unprofessional and lazy because she doesn't wear makeup to work: 'Our school prohibits students wearing makeup.'

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A bare-faced young woman who doesn't feel like she has to wear makeup to go to her job as a teaching assistant, especially considering that her school forbids students from wearing makeup.

Am I being unprofessional and lazy for not wearing makeup to my job as a teaching assistant?

I (21F) work as a teaching assistant at a school, and i never wear makeup to work. This comes down to two main reasons
1. I find makeup a horrific sensory experience that i really don't need while at work
2. our school prohibits students wearing makeup and they are made to remove it if they do. We consistently teach that "everyone is beautiful" and "you
Students at the school where the teaching assistant works, who are learning by example that they don't need makeup to be valuable or beautiful.
don't need makeup” and i feel i would be a hypocrite to tell these young girls that while i am in a full face so i never wear any makeup to lead by example .
This has never been an issue until i mentioned it in conversation to my friends and one friend said they find that unprofessional and lazy, and that
it's a bad image for the parents of my students - i was shocked because i can't see how this is unprofessional when men are not expected to wear makeup to be
professional but just because i'm a woman im expected to wear it or it's unprofessional? AITA here ??
A young professional woman who is wearing makeup to her job, which may or may not be a sign of professionalism to her and the people with whom she works.
SapphireSwift Absolutely NTA, it's an outdated expectation for women in the workplace and your friend is simply projecting her insecurities based on this onto you.
Aromatic-South-1609 NTA That friend obviously doesn't work in your profession then. Most people teaching don't bother wearing much if any. Sounds like that friend is suffering from some internalized
alltheways7522 No, you're NTA. Ignore your weird friend and keep setting a good example to the girls.
Random_user_of_doom of course nta. Tell your friend professional and painted are different things, you are paid for your brain and your skills, not for your looks
TheElvesOfXadia NTA? I don't know how this could possibly be a problem. I don't think the kids care
Anxious-Designer9315 NTA and your friend is an idiot. I can imagine there are some workplaces where this might be more appropriate (despite however ridiculous I think this is) but you're working in a school, I'm sure no one notices or cares about your level of make-up.
Safe Extension_4044 It is not unprofessional to not wear makeup, it is to expect women to wear makeup. You are not wrong to not wear makeup, but you also would not be an a_h_le if you chose to wear it ΝΤΑ

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