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Anchor Tracey Spicer protests 'extreme grooming' and faces cameras 'au naturel'

If you're a woman in broadcasting, then getting all done up is part of the job. But Australian TV anchor Tracy Spicer decided she'd had enough of feeling like a painted doll, what she calls "extreme grooming." So, in protest, she swore off lipstick, hairspray and pancake makeup....
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If you're a woman in broadcasting, then getting all done up is part of the job. But Australian TV anchor Tracy Spicer decided she'd had enough of feeling like a painted doll, what she calls "extreme grooming." So, in protest, she swore off lipstick, hairspray and pancake makeup.


An interesting little cultural experiment in audience awareness was revealed earlier this month in Australia when the co-host of a TV program said he'd worn the same suit on the air-- for a whole year. No one even noticed. Karl Stefanovic said he wanted to prove that women on television, including his co-host, are held to a different standard than men. They're judged on how they look instead of how well they do their job.

Fellow Aussie Tracey Spicer has known that for some time, but only recently became fed up. The broadcaster, host and writer realized that after 30 years in the business she had become "a painted doll" and decided to ditch the hair, makeup and other beauty routines that cost her $200 a week.

Tracey Spicer is an anchor for Sky News. She also runs her own company, Spicer Communications. She spoke with Anna Maria Tremonti from Sydney, Australia last month.

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Some women find makeup a form of creative self-expression and feel they should not be judged for wearing makeup. Crysco Photography

Not all women, of course, avoid the hair and make-up aisles. Many defend their lip gloss or visit to the esthetician as confidence-boosters and even a method of self-expression.

Kim Milan is an artist and writer, and Executive Director and Co-Founder at The People Project. She joined us from New York City in November.

Most women would agree at least to some degree that cosmetics are a bother. But make up is a lot more than mere nuisance.

Paula Martin is the Director of the Woman's Studies department at Georgia Southwestern State University, in Americus, Georgia. She spoke with Anna Maria last month.


What do you think of this debate? Are women being expected to look like so-called 'painted dolls'? Or is makeup empowering?

Tweet us @thecurrentcbc. Or e-mail us through our website. Find us on Facebook. .

This segment was produced by The Current's Idella Sturino and Marc Apollonio.

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