I walked into work a few weeks ago looking exactly how I do every Saturday — clad in my plain uniform with my hair in a ponytail and my makeup done. As I approached my manager’s office to clock in, I was greeted by one of my coworkers with whom I usually banter back and forth. However, as opposed to hearing a playful “What’s up, loser?” or something of the sort, I was caught completely off guard when I was addressed instead as a “slut.” What surprised me even more was that another coworker of mine suggested that the insult may have been a result of the way I do my makeup.

It’s unclear to me how anyone could even attempt to make an accurate assumption about my promiscuity based solely off of what I wear on my face. Not only do I carry myself in a professional manner at work, but my coworkers have only ever seen me out of my modest uniform of a black polo and slacks a handful of times.

Even in the event the accusation that I was in fact a “slut” — that I participate in sexual activity with multiple partners — were true, it would not be any of my coworker’s business and not a fair means of judgment. The act of putting down those who participate in sexual activity as a means to humiliate or chastise them serves no purpose.

For me, my face serves as a canvas — not a billboard advertising promiscuity to attract the opposite sex, like my coworkers so ridiculously assumed. Makeup is truly an art as well as a mean of self-expression. The way I wear my makeup is personal to me and an extension of myself.

There are so many negative connotations associated with wearing makeup. You shouldn’t have to have your self-esteem as well as your morals put on trial.

However, if you choose not to wear makeup, people conclude that it’s because you’re lazy, sick or choosing to look masculine. What some people don’t understand, though, is that waking up an extra 30 minutes early is not appealing to everyone. Wearing no makeup makes you appear no less feminine or more lazy or sexually active than any other female.

The correlation between makeup and promiscuity is virtually nonexistent because in no way, shape or form does what you wear on your face makeup who you are.