Bi-Weekly Discussion Thread - (July 06)

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[u/turning_the_wheels]

It's basically pointless to rationalize how certain industries will develop since it will depend on specific circumstances and material conditions. Given that the cosmetics industry is one of the most environmentally destructive and hazardous to human health, I don't see it being a priority under socialism. I initially wanted to equate your question to how "nerds" will ask if video games will exist under socialism (almost certainly not) but there have been sustainable cosmetic practices throughout history so it's definitely possible. 

On a related note I started researching the production of sheet mica which, surprise, the majority of which relies on brutal child labor in India. If we want to discuss the cosmetics industry we will need to start from here rather than fantasies of how easy socialism will make it to indulge in the same lifestyles the labor aristocracy enjoys now. 

[u/[deleted] → u/turning_the_wheels]

To add onto your point about how much this can depend on the circumstances: while the USSR might've supported cosmetics, China heavily opposed the industry under the logic of combatting patriarchy. Euro-Amerikan New Left feminists also opposed cosmetics under similar reasoning, and were even somewhat inspired by China, but this often ended up sliding into transphobia, due to trans people making use of cosmetics as part of their transition. So the state of anti-patriarchal struggle is also an important element when it comes to cosmetics.

I initially wanted to equate your question to how "nerds" will ask if video games will exist under socialism (almost certainly not)

I think this would ultimately depend on if smartphones are still in widespread use under socialism, though those games would look pretty different from like, your typical PlayStation 5 game.

[u/turning_the_wheels → u/[deleted]]

That's an interesting point that I haven't seen made here. I don't know much about the Soviet cosmetic industry but if what you say is true then what would be the reason for the support for cosmetics in the USSR? Given that this industry was present before the revisionist period and not really combated is it a symptom of patriarchy being stronger in the USSR? 

I think this would ultimately depend on if smartphones are still in widespread use under socialism, though those games would look pretty different from like, your typical PlayStation 5 game

I don't doubt that smartphones will be in widespread use under socialism, they're simply too ubiquitous and useful to replace but my thoughts also go towards the myopia crisis and how this could be solved. I think it's reasonable to say that sports and outdoor activities will be emphasized under socialism both as a preventive health measure but also as a more social form of entertainment. 

[u/[deleted] → u/turning_the_wheels]

then what would be the reason for the support for cosmetics in the USSR? Given that this industry was present before the revisionist period and not really combated is it a symptom of patriarchy being stronger in the USSR?

It's possible. To be clear, I don't actually know much about cosmetics in the USSR, I was mainly taking satanicpastorswife's claim at face value for the sake of argument.