When you see a snapshot of a face how much does makeup factor into deciding if it's a boy or girl?

Question

I.e. how likely are you to say it's a guy just because there's no makeup?

It's funny what society does to people.

Answer 1

I think that it depends on the age of the person and their bone structure, and also on the culturally influenced expectations of the observer. Children show very little sexual dimorphism, and even some young adults may seem ambiguously gendered with or without makeup. I think makeup, hairstyle, body and facial hair and body language all help observers decide the gender of someone they meet. I don't think that makeup alone would influence whether or not I thought someone I met was male or female, but I have known people who were very good at looking either male or female as they chose.

Answer 2

Gender cues are interesting. I think that hair length might have even more to do with whether you think a person is male or female at first glance, particularly if their features aren't strongly masculine or feminine.

A couple years ago I had very short hair (maybe 2 inches at the most). I'm not particularly male-looking, but I do have a strong jaw and I'm about average height for a girl at 5'6. If I was wearing baggy clothes so that they couldn't see my curves and no other hints that I was a girl, people would sometimes mistake me for a 12 or 13 year old guy at first glance. Once they got a better look they would realize their mistake. If I wore feminine earrings I was never mistaken for a boy.

If somebody has a slightly or very androgynous face, makeup definitely makes a difference if at first glance you think a person is a man or a woman. Just look at some male-to-female transsexuals who look very feminine, even without facial surgery.

Answer 3

Make up is probably the least obvious factor when determining a male or female face.

Look at the source provided to understand why.

although some males wear make up...you can usually tell who is who regardless.

Answer 4

weather its soft or hard facial features..

Answer 5

I just LOOK pregnent. Sorry. Dunno.