Beyond Binaries: Why Makeup (and Nature) Defy Gender

Beyond Binaries: Why Makeup (and Nature) Defy Gender

Table of Contents

    Content Note:
    This article discusses biological sex, gender diversity, and inclusivity in makeup. It’s written to educate, not debate ,with respect for transgender, non-binary, and intersex communities. At VE Cosmetics, we believe beauty has no gender. This post explores the science, culture, and natural diversity that prove it.

    Makeup Has Never Been Gendered

    Makeup is expression. It’s ritual, art, and storytelling.
    From ancient Egypt’s kohl-lined eyes to warriors painting their faces before battle, humans have used pigment to transform, protect, and empower themselves long before “mascara” or “marketing” ever existed.

    Somewhere along the line, Western beauty culture decided makeup was gendered, but cosmetics were never born of gender, they were born of creativity, ceremony, and identity. And that’s where the conversation begins.

    At VE, we’ve always believed that makeup belongs to everyone. You don’t need to identify as any gender to wear lipstick or shimmer. You only need to be human,  and ready to express yourself.

    Beyond XX and XY: The Science of Sex and Gender

    We often hear: “It’s just biology XX is female, XY is male.”
    But that’s super basic GCSE-level biology, not the full scientific story. A lot of you know my science background and I can talk about this for hours, but I will try and keep it brief for the purposes of this blog.

    In reality, sex and gender are complex systems shaped by genetics, hormones, anatomy, and the brain, none of which fit neatly into two boxes.

    Let’s unpack that a little:

    • Chromosomes: While XX and XY are the most common configurations, there are many natural variations , including XXY (Klinefelter syndrome), XO (Turner syndrome), XXX, XYY, and mosaic combinations where different cells in the same body carry different chromosome sets.

    • Hormones: All humans produce oestrogen and testosterone, just in different balances. Hormone levels overlap widely, many women have higher testosterone than some men, and vice versa.

    • Anatomy: Intersex people are born with physical traits that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female bodies. They make up around 1–2% of the population (roughly the same percentage as people with red hair).

    • The Brain and Identity: Neuroscience shows that gender identity forms through complex interactions between genetics, hormones, and brain structure. It’s not a “choice,” nor is it purely social , it’s intrinsic and deeply felt.

    So, when people say “biological sex is simple,” the science says otherwise. Nature loves variation, not rigidity. The XX/XY argument simply can’t explain the vast spectrum of real human diversity.

    Culture Has Never Been Binary Either

    The idea of only two genders is a relatively recent and Western invention.
    Across much of human history, societies recognised and respected multiple genders, roles, and identities.

    • Two-Spirit people have been honoured for centuries in many Indigenous North American cultures, embodying both masculine and feminine spirits.

    • In South Asia, the Hijra community has existed for thousands of years, legally recognised as a third gender in modern India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

    • In Samoa, Fa’afafine are recognised as a distinct gender identity that contributes to community life.

    • Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Greek traditions included deities and priests whose gender expressions transcended binary boundaries.

    It was colonialism and Western religion that enforced strict gender binaries across the world, erasing fluidity that once flourished. But history remembers. Humanity has always been more than male and female.

    Nature Defies the Binary

    If we look beyond humanity, the natural world is gloriously diverse.
    Gender and reproduction in nature are rarely binary, and often fluid:

    • Clownfish change sex throughout their lives.

    • Wrasses and parrotfish shift from female to male depending on social hierarchy.

    • Snails and earthworms are hermaphroditic,( possessing both reproductive systems).

    • Banana slugs can self-fertilise.

    • Even plants and fungi can have dozens of mating types, not just two.

    So why would the human species, which is part of this same natural web, be the lone exception? Nature doesn’t deal in binaries. It deals in balance, transformation, and infinite variation.

    When we try to force people into narrow definitions of gender, we’re not “protecting biology” we’re denying it.

    Beyond Labels: Expression, Identity, and Empathy

    Makeup doesn’t care about gender. It only cares about colour, light, and expression.

    When someone picks up a lipstick or paints on eyeliner, they’re participating in one of humanity’s oldest rituals: transformation.

    And that transformation belongs to everyone.

    At VE, we celebrate that truth. We create makeup for all because expression shouldn’t be limited by outdated binaries. Compassion, education, and science all tell us the same thing " identity is diverse, natural, and valid".

    Understanding that isn’t just good science ...it’s good humanity.

    As always as this is a more factual approach I have included my sources and further Reading

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