Yes, girls appear to mature faster these days, but is that really the case? Appearance is the issue here, as many young girls, too young some would say, are wearing too much makeup.

What is the stated purpose of makeup? To enhance and/or recreate the beauty of one's face and, by extension, to appear more attractive to the opposite sex to presumably create interest in a potential partner.

Back several generations ago, our female ancestors were often married by the age of 16; they were not allowed to "court" or date until they became women or had their first menstrual period, in today's lingo. After approximately a year of putting their hair up and their skirts down, attending well-chaperoned community events, many girls were ready to be betrothed to certain young men. After an additional period of time, up to a year and sometimes longer, the happy couples were married - marriages which lasted for 40 or 50 years and ended only in widowhood. Most used little, if any makeup.

Was this a bad thing? Can you imagine a 16-year-old married today? Of course some do, and it frequently ends in divorce, or worse. Is it the maturity factor? Or the hooker syndrome? Or simply parental non-interference?

The hooker syndrome (I am not yet aware of an official term for this phenomena) is modern society's tendency to glorify the female body, let it all hang out so to speak, uncover every mystery, plaster makeup on the face, provide umpteen services and products to perfect and preserve, and market this entire package to girls as young as six. Are six-year-olds supposed to be attracting men, or even boys?

When I was a girl of fourteen, a very few, a decided minority of girls I was acquainted with were allowed to wear lip gloss and a particularly atrocious shade of pale blue eyeshadow. That was all, and it was only allowed for special occasions, such as a relative's wedding or a confirmation. We only began wearing nylons and heels at that age as well; certainly no see-through clothing or skirts shorter than just above the knees.

By high school some of the girls added a touch of mascara, or perhaps blush, and those with unfortunate complexions used a bit of foundation or powder or concealer. Prom, of course, and graduation, meant we were about to enter or entering adulthood and so makeup use certainly increased, as did the manner of dress. So why have things changed, and should they?

I've seen girls as young as nine wearing full makeup, at the

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