We started this series of articles dreaming about how the world would be different if we lived in an open society where it didn't matter how men and women dressed and acted. We went on to propose making the existence of such a world our shared vision where we could all live according to our own personal style. Last time we asserted that we do in fact have the power to change the current reality to match our desired world.
Some of you may be thinking that there might actually be valid reasons why we shouldn't wear feminine style clothing. That seems a fair question but consider this. Suppose you were asked the question, "What sex is your shirt." It wouldn't take long to assert that clothing doesn't have sex. It is neither male nor female. But what if the question was, "What gender is your shirt?" Does the same answer apply? Is a shirt masculine or feminine? Neither. Clothing doesn't have gender either, yet in today's culture, most people consider a shirt masculine because it is traditionally worn by males. Clothing itself has little to do with sex or gender. Ask yourself what makes a shirt intrinsically different from a blouse. Is it the material? The style? Having buttons on the opposite side? None of the above. There is no difference and no reason to consider one masculine and the other feminine.
Women wear tailored shirts without anyone raising an eyebrow, then why are people upset when a man wears a blouse? The answer is, Currently accepted custom! Custom is the primary factor in dictating who wears what. Custom dictates that men wear shirts and women wear blouses. Women can also wear shirts, but men can't wear blouses; a classic example of a non-sensical double standard. The custom may have been a purely arbitrary convention that everyone follows without understanding why. There may have been a reason once, but it no longer exists. How we got to this stage isn't as important as what we do now.
Must this situation persist? Not at all. Customs, and the roles of men and women, are in a constant state of flux. Not long ago, it was unacceptable for women to wear slacks or pants in the work place. Now, women can wear any men's fashions. They wear suits, with pants, vests, and ties. A major department store ran a huge advertisement for silk shirts and silk underwear for men. How far is that from women's clothes? Today's customs will certainly be modified tomorrow.
Some clothing is designed to accommodate the physical differences between men and women. A man can wear a bra, and a woman can wear a jock, but those articles of clothing are most useful for members of a particular sex. Other clothing is designed to accommodate ease of use in the bathroom. A man can wear panties, and a woman can wear boxer shorts, but those articles are more functional for members of a particular sex.
There have always been those who push the barriers of acceptable attire. Even some motorcycle riders now have long hair and wear earrings. Who will tell the guy in black leather, riding a Harley, that his long hair and stud earring make him a wimp? What about members of Royalty? They wear the fanciest, finest materials with lace, pleats, and frills. Show business performers go far beyond any standard dress code. Have you ever watched MTV and tried to identify the performer as a man or a woman? If you have enough money or notoriety, no one questions what you wear. More likely, you're considered a trend setter. Finally, who would call a brawny Scot lad a sissy for wearing a kilt? And why isn't a kilt a skirt? And if it is a skirt, why is it OK for men to wear? Why are things this way? You guessed it, currently accepted custom.
Even armed with this rational information, most people are unlikely to accept a man wearing his finest regalia. Most people need an attitude check regarding gender-related issues. We could view this as a problem or as an opportunity for improvement. Let's consider it an opportunity. If you want to wear women's clothing, why shouldn't you? Why shouldn't your ideal, open society exist? Consider this –
There is no legitimate justification for most clothing to be considered appropriate attire only for the members of a particular sex.
Standards of appropriate attire change constantly.
Recent trends have blurred the distinctions between the dressing habits of the sexes, and have placed society on the path towards your shared vision.
Consider the words of George Bernard Shaw -
"You see things
that are and say, ‘Why?’
But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’"
Why shouldn't we be able to create an open world where we can wear feminine clothing?
