A Feminist Reflection on Pedicures

I love getting pedicures. But I've always felt kind of uneasy getting them (a feeling that I am slowly and surely overcoming). Even now that I am becoming more comfortable getting pedicures, I still feel the need to justify getting them; I always get them for a reason. For example, this morning I went to get a pedicure in preparation for my cousin's wedding this weekend (see right). I'll also get pedicures before I go on vacation, before I went back to school, etc. I never got a pedicure just for the hell of it, and even if that was really the reason, I would find some other reason to "justify" getting a pedicure.

Why do I do this? Why do I feel the need to justify doing something that I enjoy?

I think that part of it comes from the feeling that why would I have someone do something for me when I can do it myself.* Of course this doesn't always hold. I go to restaurants when I could easily cook for myself. I get my hair cut at a salon when I technically could cut my own hair (even though I wouldn't trust myself doing that). But for some reason, pedicures just really stick out to me that way. I could very easily paint my own nails. I'm not that good at it, I always end up with smudges, but I could do it.

I think I'm also uncomfortable getting pedicures because I see it as a very clear marker of middle class status. Yes, I am middle class and I have privilege because of that. But I am uncomfortable expressing that privilege in certain ways. I am 100% positive that my middle class privilege is written all over my actions and decisions, but for some reason, pedicures is one middle class status marker that bothers me. Why?

Getting a pedicure is also something that I have always done by myself or with my mom. My friends have never really shared in my desire to get a pedicure. In that sense, I have also felt kind of ashamed (I don't know if I want to use that word, but it works...) of caring about what I look like because I sometimes feel like I care more than my friends do. And because of that, pedicures have fallen into that category of feeling "ashamed" of taking time to get them.

As @samsanator accurately pointed out when I brought up the idea for this post on Twitter, "Being a feminist doesn't make you anti-girly." I can still be feminine by getting a pedicure and be a feminist. Is part of my uneasiness a result of feeling that I'm being a "bad feminist" for being girly? It might be subconscious, because I consciously believe that femininity is not automatically opposed to feminism.

I have written before about how I reconcile my love for "high heels and lipstick" with my feminist beliefs. I think questioning the patriarchal standards of beauty are important, especially if you partake in some of them. But do I get pedicures for other people? I am kind of self-conscious about my feet, so I like pedicures because they make them look and feel pedicure. But I also like pedicures because it is something that I can do for myself. I go to a place where a pedicure also involves a foot and leg massage, so it is a nice way to relax, unwind, and have some time for myself.

There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself and doing things that you enjoy. This is something that I am still trying to come to terms with as it relates to getting pedicures. I need to stop justifying getting pedicures with having a reason to get them other than I just want to. This same mentality also applies to other forms of "pampering" that people enjoy, such as manicures, facials, etc.

What are your thoughts on pedicures and pampering? Do you sometimes have trouble reconciling doing something for yourself that you enjoy with your feminist beliefs?

*I feel like an Office reference is necessary here. I'm reminded of when Dwight talks about refusing to tip people for things he could do himself. I don't hold that specific belief, I firmly believe in tipping, but why have someone do something for me that I can do myself?

This Week in Blogs: June 28 - July 4

Happy Sunday! I'm sitting here watching the men's finals at Wimbledon and it's looking like it will turn out to be a good match, but we'll see. My computer is a little sick this morning, I'm going to have to take a trip out to Best Buy later today.

But it's Sunday, so here are some of the great blog posts that I have read this week.

• RMJ at Deeply Problematic discusses how to deal with privilege and "fucking up" while developing in her feminism.

• Electrickkoolaid in the Feministing Community looks at the connection between femininity and food, where women cannot eat large portions at the risk of losing their femininity.

• Abortion is always a hot topic. Gloria Feldt at RHRealityCheck examines the option of adoption and paying mothers to carry their fetuses to term.

• Danae at Choices Campus Blog proclaims the need for sisterhood in addressing sexist advertising.

• Is there really a "death of macho"? Courtney at Feministing answers this question.

These are just some of my favorite blog posts or news that I didn't get to this week. What were some of your favorite posts this week?