Nail Polish is 1000% Tougher

In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a shout out to the creative young women who we meet everyday in schools and community centers during COMPAS programs. They inspire us through their insightful art and use of everyday items (hello, nail polish) to challenge our thinking.

Take, for example, Ruby Mathiason and her poem, “An Ode to the Women Who Wear Too Much.” It was published in COMPAS' 2020 Anthology of Student Writing, We Tore Down the Forest.

Women often face pressure to present themselves in a particular way through makeup and fashion. Unfortunately, it is entirely too easy to fall into the category of not doing enough or doing too much. It’s a difficult game to play, let alone win. In Ruby’s poem, she shows how women’s insistence on reclaiming what is often labeled as “too much” is emboldening the next generation to go through their life doing exactly what they want to do.

An Ode to the Women Who Wear Too Much

Check out the video of Ruby performing her spoken word piece for the 2020 Virtual Anthology Reading.

Thank you to all the women that wear Too Much.

To the women who wear a full face of makeup into a Target at 2pm on a Thursday because god knows their patience is as thin as their waist used to be.

To the women who dig around in their little clutch to find their lipstick so they can reapply with a pocket mirror because her 60’s are getting nearer and nearer and if you think she’s giving up you’re dead wrong.

To the women who wear big hoops
except not this Wednesday because Tammy’s kid is just that
age now to rip those suckers off.

To the women who’s heels clack on the linoleum alerting
everyone that they are HERE and they would like a
macchiato please that’s D-e-b-r-a and
can I say you look gorgeous absolutely gorgeous in that
shade I could never pull that off.

Thank you to the women that wear Too Much because
that lipstick is a taser, those nails are claws and there’s a
knife in that little purple clutch because everyone knows
she’s asking for it.

And can I say as a young woman that you inspire me because
you know that society conforms to you not the other way around.

And when everyone tells you you’re asking for it,
you spray on your L’Oreal Magic Root Cover up and slip on
your heels because never in your life have you cared what
other people think.

So, god bless the women who wear Too Much, who taught me
that life is tough, but Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear nail polish is
1000% tougher.

Ruby Mathiason, Grade 7, 2019-2020
Richfield Middle School, Richfield, MN
Teaching Artist, Frank Sentwali

Looking for ways to bring creative inspiration into your school or community site? Let’s talk!