The assumption that women do everything for the male gaze is part of the problem because it's a patriarchal narrative. Although many women do self-objectify because of the societal pressure to do so, a lot of women also don't spend a lot of time worrying what random men or random strangers think of them. Although I get what you are saying here, I certainly don't think that a face with little or no make-up automatically looks like shit.

I was blown away by the 55 minutes of preening you mentioned. I use skin care products. I wear make-up and blow dry my hair. All of that takes maybe 10-12 minutes. I'm not spending time contouring or doing extensive eye make-up, but geez.... that'a a lot of investment in getting ready.

I think you (and Naomi Watts) are spot on about obession with female beauty and thinness as a means of control and beating back equality.