Kimberly O'Connor

I’m reposting because something is wrong with the photo in the earlier draft. Sorry about that!

Okay–get ready for this.

I got this vague, amorphous idea after Dobbs that I named Project Lipstick. Basically, as a form of nonviolent protest, women would wear lipstick on our faces, under our eyes, kinda like some athletes.

Like this:

I’ve been taken with it as an idea because it has a certain visual shock value, yet it’s super easy to do. It’s a new use for a tool (lipstick) that in my mind reclaims and empowers the feminine. To the extent that I’ve developed the idea, which is not much, I imagine that people who did it could have handy some little cards we’d printed up that explains it. Mine might sound like

I’m wearing lipstick on my face as a silent protest to the Trump administration’s blatant disregard for democratic norms, reckless executive orders, and attacks on marginalized communities, which directly affect my family’s well being.

(I wrote that 3 weeks ago and it could be updated now but I’m too tired–you get the gist)

and then there could be some website with some info and a “get involved” note (want to join? All you need is some lipstick, and, if you want, a printed version of your own protest statement to hand out when people give you quizzical looks).

A few weeks ago, I shared this idea with some of my awesome women contacts. Some questions I had about this idea are: 

• Is this just crazy?
• What is a better way we could protest?
• Is this idea a cultural appropriation in a way I am not aware of or could it be culturally offensive in a way I am not seeing? 
• Is it even doable? 
• Would women do it? 
• What am I missing?
• What else is possible?

I decided to share the idea here on the blog because I am curious what women think. Some people would, some people wouldn’t. One friend recently replied maybe it could be an art installation. In the end, I don’t think lipstick is the answer. The Daily Show did a really funny segment about this topic recently.

I think the real question here is, what are the best ways to protest?

Maybe the real question is, how can we be Janet Mills?

Think bloomers? But more than symbolic, like more than pussy hats or smearing lipstick on your face…

Maybe someone here can inspire us.

Get creative, people. We need a leader.