“As far as cosmetics are used for adornment in a conscious and creative way, they are not emblems of inauthenticity: it is when they are presented as the real thing, covering unsightly blemishes, disguising a repulsive thing so that it is acceptable to the world that their function is deeply suspect. The women who dare not go out without their false eyelashes are in serious psychic trouble.”

Australian writer and public intellectual

Germaine Greer is an Australian writer and public intellectual, active in the latter half of the 20th century. She is regarded as one of the major voices of second-wave feminism. Her work helped shape feminist debate and made her a prominent commentator on culture and society. She is known for writing with force and clarity on questions of gender, power, and public life.