Lecture Info

When Mary Kay Ash launched her business in 1963, she couldn’t have guessed that Mary Kay Cosmetics would become an icon of American capitalism. Mary Kay democratized skincare, bringing what was once a luxury into the homes of suburban and rural women. Mary Kay also pioneered a new kind of working woman, one who was at once career-driven and traditionally feminine. Offering flexibility that honored “a woman’s priorities” to her family and underscoring other “feminine values” also helped make Mary Kay a way of life, rather than just a job. This talk will explore how Mary Kay tapped into a labor force of women, including working class and women of color, monetizing their existing social networks. The business model forged by Mary Kay raises important questions about the needs and concerns of women workers, the influence of virtue-signaling in business, and the legacy of multi-level-marketing.