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AIBU?

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Original poster

I can see why SO MANY men want to wear dresses!

55 replies

loveyouradvice · 05/04/2018 21:56

Having just watched my DD spectacular jazz show… 300 kids on stage from 4 -18…. many with seven or more outfits, revelling in the joy of dance and lots of different identities…and of the 300, just 11 were boys…..I am beginning to feel a bit sad for men. If you have had none of this growing up, none of the fun and dress up and pretend….. yes, I can see why you might hanker after it.

Just longing for the day when men can wear dresses and makeup in the street and to work without comment - as men, without having to declare themselves transgender - just as an expression of their masculinity.

OP posts:
SheilaTurnip · 05/04/2018 21:59

This will go well

OohMavis · 05/04/2018 22:00

I don't know why anyone would want to wear a dress. Fucking uncomfortable, impractical things.

Peachyking000 · 05/04/2018 22:02

Isn’t it more the case that girls are more likely to take part in this type of thing? My DS wouldn’t be seen dead in a jazz show and I doubt he’ll want to wear a dress in later life as a result

zzzzz · 05/04/2018 22:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissusGeneHunt · 05/04/2018 22:04

Didn't the New Romantics in the late 70s and 80s wear make up to express themselves.... Adam Ant, Simon le Bon, Phil Oakley, Nick Rhodes... Etc etc the list goes on. Fancied the pants/boxers off most of them, me!!! WinkSmile

Minisoksmakehardwork · 05/04/2018 22:10

Check out Thom Browne's latest runway quite frankly I think anything which helps people remove gender stereotypes is a good thing.

A trend like this may also help people feel comfortable in their own skin rather then feeling like they have to buy into being wholly seen as the opposite gender and losing sight of their individuality.

noeffingidea · 05/04/2018 22:47

Just longing for the day when men can wear dresses and makeup in the street without comment
What makes you think they want to? Loads of women don't want to wear dresses and make up either. If wearing dresses and makeup was so cool then men would have adopted it as masculine behaviour by now. The fact that they haven't speaks volumes. They really like wearing their comfy trousers, flat shoes and not feeling the need to spend money on putting shit on their faces.
Your daugher's jazz show sounds great though. Glad they enjoyed it.

Mumofkids · 05/04/2018 22:57

I do love some guy-liner and a kilt!

Schnauzermum2 · 05/04/2018 23:27

Did they have a free bar at this show by any chance?

Original poster
loveyouradvice · 06/04/2018 00:24

I do believe that men are far more hampered by "gender norms" than women.... and suffer for it....

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 06/04/2018 00:28

I'm sure they're all jealous of this doozy......

I can see why SO MANY men want to wear dresses!
mentallyDividing · 06/04/2018 05:41

I love skirts. Much more comfortable than something with a groin.

The men in my family all wear shorts most of the time. Trousers are awfully restrictive.

Women definitely have it better re. dress codes and what we can wear.

MotherofDinosaurs · 06/04/2018 06:37

Fucking uncomfortable, impractical things

What's uncomfortable about a dress? Much less restrictive than a pair of jeans...

londonrach · 06/04/2018 06:42

Im female hate dresses..they for weddings only.

speakout · 06/04/2018 06:44

But men do have the option.

It's their world after all.

Most choose not to. ( Much like most woman)

Feeling sad for men? Hmm

Backingvocals · 06/04/2018 07:04

I agree. Masculinity is so tightly policed that men and boys are really restricted. IMO this is a large part of the mental health problems that so many men suffer.

Problem is that women have been trying to break out of the bonds of femininity for decades and are supporting each other in doing so. Men keep reinforcing the code of masculinity so anyone who doesn't "make it" as a man has to claim to be a woman.

LaContessaDiPlump · 06/04/2018 07:08

I agree with you op. I firmly believe that you're born male or female and that never changes, but you can and should wear whatever the hell you like regardless of your sex. Toxic masculinity is definitely a thing and IMO it's responsible for a lot of men transitioning (much as rigid physical expectations of young women make them more inclined to transition, to escape such expectation).

Andre1500 · 06/04/2018 07:08

Because of course in this wonderful world where men feel free to wear dresses and make up, this won't cause women to avoid being seen with the ones who make that choice and definitely won't render them completely repulsive to the opposite sex...

(Fancying rich, famous and high status men doesn't count)

UpperWallop · 06/04/2018 07:08

Why are you wasting your time feeling sorry for men? I can tell you now, there are far more needy and worthy causes than men. They are not spending one single microsecond feeling sorry for you. Especially not something qyiite so banal as clothing options.

mentallyDividing · 06/04/2018 07:10

@UpperWallop

Fuck, you have some issues.

noeffingidea · 06/04/2018 07:11

Trousers are awfully restrictive
In what way? Most men don't seem restricted in any way at all, and neither do the millions of women who choose to wear them. As long they're not too tight and you can move your legs freely.

UpperWallop · 06/04/2018 07:15

Mental - er, ok then. If you say so.

mentallyDividing · 06/04/2018 07:18

Even with loose-fitting trousers, the seam at the groin often gets tight when trying to get your legs apart. The fabric across the thighs too.

They also feel (to me) more restrictive.

"Most men don't seem restricted in any way at all, and neither do the millions of women who choose to wear them."

I had no idea it was such an important topic that a large survey had been done!

Wear what you want!

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/04/2018 07:26

H&M was selling skirts to men in the early noughties. They Didn’t catch on.

Eminybob · 06/04/2018 07:29

Although I’m very gender critical, and have hit peak trans more than once over the last 12 months, even I have to say that I think there is more to someone identifying as trans than the desire to wear a dress.

But yes I do agree with you that men and women should be able to wear whatever the fuck they like without being labelled, and it sadens me that we seem to be going backwards rather than forwards in terms of progression.