My name is Tricia Chieppa. I’m writing you because I recently saw your August 31 post about perfection, along with your makeup free photo and your comment that it’s time we take a stand. I couldn’t agree more and, a few months ago, decided to more than just lament about this issue to friends.
In July, 2015 I started my website/blog at www.burdenofperfection.com, along with new facebook and twitter pages. I’m using these platforms in several ways, one of which is calling out manufacturers that don’t see anything wrong with producing, and profiting from, ads that contribute to people’s belief that they are not worthy unless they hide their “flaws” behind a mask of makeup. Because I don’t want my messages to always focus on the negative, I also post inspiring quotes and send thank you shout outs to people, like you, who show courage by speaking out for the sake of others. So, before I continue, thank you for caring enough to pose sans makeup and to speak out about the dangerous illusion of perfection.
Another step I’ve taken is to post a petition on change.org. This petition asks Revlon to stop sending the message that women need to use their makeup to cover up pores so that they can be more worthy of intimacy, love, and understanding. That kind of message cuts deep below the surface, feeding on and inflating insecurities. As you say, “it’s the soul that needs surgery”. This type of ad damages the soul and it needs to stop.
So far, I’ve only gotten 51 signatures. This is because my website/pages are so new, I don’t have many followers yet. The 51st signature is significant to me because it is from a woman who teaches body image classes at a college and in classes all over the country. She has authored two books about this subject as well. I don’t know her but reached out to her a couple of days ago and she not only read and signed the petition, she shared it on her twitter page. It has been an encouragement to me to continue reaching out to others who share similar views on this subject.
Getting a major manufacturer to change the way they advertise feels like trying to topple Goliath. I cannot do this on my own or with 51 signatures. What I need is a village of people to stand beside me and call for change. One thing that would help immensely is for you to get on board. Your August 31 post has gotten almost 270,000 likes. Your support could easily be the key to this petition taking off, and to other manufacturers changing their ways as well.
Please take the time to read my petition. If you agree and are willing to get involved in any way, I would be most grateful. With your help, we can be successful in getting manufacturers to be more realistic and more responsible with their advertising. Other manufacturers make large profits without sending negative or unrealistic messages and it’s time that the rest get on board!
The two people who have a direct connection with my decision to get involved are:
• A 14 year old relative, who truly is beautiful inside and out. She recently confided that she went through a time where she started cutting herself and even thought of suicide because of feelings of unworthiness. She said she still knows other girls her age who cut themselves.
• An 18 year old relative of a friend who, despite attending Yale medical school, has tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion because she thinks she is “ugly and stupid”.
I know there are countless other people in this kind of pain. Some of them end their own lives or even take others’ lives. The majority just exist in pain, not fulfilling their potential because they don’t believe in themselves. It’s an American epidemic.
We, as a society, need to stop sending the message that perfection is attainable and that unless we are, or at least appear to be, perfect we are not enough (pretty enough, smart enough, thin enough, rich enough, talented enough). The only way this will happen is if we stand together and support each other. As a small voice in a very big world, the only way I know how to help change the world is to send out my little ripples, hoping that others will climb on board and link arms with me.
Will you help?
This link will take you to my blog and a direct link to the petition:
