The trending TikTok search, "Ghetto makeup," raised brows among black women. What's the meaning behind it?
According to Daniel Schwarts's "Ghetto: The History of a Word" in 2019, this word was first used in Venice, Italy, in 1516 to refer to "racially segregated city blocks." Through the years, this noun became "associated with overcrowding, poverty, and racial and religious segregation," said the historian.
In slang and pop culture, "ghetto" was then used as an adjective, which means behaving in a "low-class" manner or something with "low quality." Later on, it was also linked to the beauty world - but this time, it had a positive connotation and was used as a slang term for "fabulous" or "flashy glamour."
@authenticallydee Ghetto Makeup being a trending search is crazy .. countless black women being the result of the search is WILD. #ghettomakeup #outtacontrol #creatorsearchinsights
♬ Storytelling - Adriel
However, when this makeup is searched on TikTok, the results show black women doing their beauty routines. Even if the video doesn't have something to do with "ghetto," they will appear on the results page as long as they are a person of color.
Due to this, several black beauty influencers expressed their disappointment about the platform's search insights by posting their reaction videos.
Among them was content creator Sky Solomon, one of the first to use this term in 2023.At the time, she explained that she used it in her caption to refer to how she put her broken foundation bottle inside a plastic cup to save its remaining content.
@skysolomon_ Ghetto makeup routine explained #ghettomakeup #blackgirls
♬ original sound - Sky Solomon
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However, she called out how TikTok would put all black women in one category, creating a stereotype.
"For TikTok, it is ridiculous that you guys are deeming any classy or any black girl who's doing their makeup as ghetto makeup, even though that person can be super classy, well put together, and anything but ghetto," added Solomon.
@imisiadefuye, who educates her followers about this issue also stated; "I feel like there really isn't such a thing as ghetto makeup. I think there's makeup that looks unhygienic, I think there's makeup that doesn't look good. I just don't think any makeup should be classified as ghetto at all."
@imisiadefuye I def have to educate myself alot more abt the topic #makeup #fypã‚· #foryoupageofficiall
♬ original sound - ImisiAdefuye
@imisiadefuye I’m honestly so gald i posted my last vid if i didnt i would have never taken the time to educate myself. 💕🫱ðŸ½â€ðŸ«²ðŸ¾#foryoupageofficiall #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp
♬ original sound - ImisiAdefuye
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