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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think nail polish isn't only for girls?

45 replies

SapphireSeptember · 03/11/2019 01:08

Yes, it's me again! Came across this gem in a Facebook group I'm in, I'm assuming it's from Twitter originally. I was Hmm about it because:
A) boys aren't allowed nail polish (tell that to the plethora of male Goths, Punks, emos, metalheads, etc who wear nail polish) and
B) girls wear nail polish to be 'pretty'. Envy

To think nail polish isn't only for girls?
OP posts:
GooGoo52 · 03/11/2019 01:18

I wear nail polish because I want to, not because it looks pretty. I also let my boys wear it when they were younger. If they wanted to now, I would be ok with it. It's about self expression, not anything to do with transitioning.

JaneJeffer · 03/11/2019 01:43

My boys wore nail varnish when they were little. Amazingly they are still boys now.

TabithasMumCaroline · 03/11/2019 01:48

Ds loved nail polish until he was about 15. He’d colour coordinate it to special events/ holidays. He also breastfed his dollies and learned to walk in pink sparkly Barbie shoes. #stillaboy

Tyrotoxicity · 03/11/2019 01:48

Parental manifestations of damaging stereotypes are one hell of a psychological drug.

Nail polish, that's more of a physiological drug. It's all about the horribly stinky chemicals. It's only a gateway to cross-sex identification when backed up by people telling you it is.

Original poster
SapphireSeptember · 03/11/2019 02:03

Yeah, I'm pretty sure my brothers liked playing with my make-up/nail polish when we were younger, But amazingly they're still boys now they're 29 and 27 respectively. I also played with my brothers' toys and I'm still a girl!

I don't get the angst. People seem to be doubling down on gender stereotypes and I find it worrying and maddening at the same time. I thought we'd got over this. If this woman is so worried about her son wearing 'girly' nail polish surely she could buy him some blue nail polish? (I'm waiting for him to start borrowing her make up when he's older, cos that wound be funny.)

OP posts:
Original poster
SapphireSeptember · 03/11/2019 02:05

Also to add I love nail polish (the sparklier the better) but I don't wear it to look 'pretty'. I think it looks pretty, but it's a very small part of my overall look, which is mostly Goth.

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 03/11/2019 02:13

I feel sorry for that little boy not being allowed to express himself. That woman sounds awful with her 'fuck you haters'. She's hateful!

Durgasarrow · 03/11/2019 03:56

It's pretty toxic stuff and a waste of energy, honestly. There are so many better things to spend time doing.

kitchensinkdrama19 · 03/11/2019 04:06

My boy is 3.5. He loves having his nails painted. My husband is a big strapping old school rugby played and he doesn't care. Just wants our son to be happy. "Nail painting is so pretty," said my son! It's true!

kitchensinkdrama19 · 03/11/2019 04:07

I just paint his toes and let it wear off naturally. I don't like using remover.

kitchensinkdrama19 · 03/11/2019 04:08

I have a range of rainbow colours and he likes his toes painted different colours.

ploughingthrough · 03/11/2019 04:51

My 4 year old boy likes to get involved with nail painting. So far he still seems to be a boy.

Eledamorena · 03/11/2019 05:13

My 2 year old son LOVES nail polish. A few of my very gender-conforming teenage boy students also wear it, for attention or to be a bit 'different' (it isn't part of their look at all!)

I just can't get riled about it. My son also chooses his sister's sparkly shoes over his own (boring) ones.

kamizawa · 03/11/2019 05:55

It's tremendously useful for sealing containers or marking surfaces that are difficult to mark with other inks. Scientists use it all the time. Be careful though, the solvent in there will dissolve some plastics.

Less facetiously, yeah, nothing wrong with men, boys or anyone else wearing it.

Kristallen · 03/11/2019 06:53

The only problem now though is that if a boy wears it, he's likely to be told it's a sign he's actually a girl because biology and social stereotypes are so bloody confused! Angry

rookiemere · 03/11/2019 07:26

DS used to come home from the CMs with nail polish on - she'd do all of them, he was 3 at the time. Didn't bother me at all, but inward sigh as DH didn't like it so I'd have to take it off before he got home.

SimonJT · 03/11/2019 07:31

She’d shit a brick if she met my son in that case!

He often has his finger and toe nails painted, he has long hair and his favourite item of clothings is a pair of pink leggings with metallic unicorns on.

His penis is yet to fall off.

Annabk · 03/11/2019 07:32

I’m not a fan of any child being exposed to the toxins in nail polish. www.ellamila.com/blogs/in-the-news/115515716-5-toxic-chemicals-to-avoid-in-nail-polish

Wildorchidz · 03/11/2019 07:35

I just paint his toes

Presumably because they will be mostly hidden by his socks and shoes. Why not his fingernails too?

stucknoue · 03/11/2019 07:44

My (male, very masculine, father of 2) friend wears dark purple nail varnish and makeup, he's got mid back length black hair. He looks tones down the makeup for his professional suit wearing job.

myself2020 · 03/11/2019 07:51

No 4 year old should wear nail polish, the end. ingredient are anything but child friendly

Purplejay · 03/11/2019 07:53

She knows she is being controversial given the last line of the post. Although there are lots who will agree with her I am sure. Idiots.

My DS used to love having his nails painted occasionally as a young child and at Primary school always had them done at the school fair or any other time it was on offer until he was in year 4 or 5. He even chose to go to world book day in year 5 as Katnis Everdean. He is 13 and hasn’t magically turned into a girl.

I guess a lot of girls have their nails done to look pretty but for others it is simply that they like to have them painted and liked the look of them being painted and nothing deeper than that (the same as my son when he was smaller). Makes me think about why I like to get mine done (i have acrylics). Its not to look ‘pretty’ but I do think they improve my appearance and I often get compliments so I can feel more confident with them done. I think my nails sometimes look pretty (just not me)! I like to do things not everyone does and my natural nails are horrible as I bite them. Oddly when I think about it, I rarely wear make up.

BeanBag7 · 03/11/2019 07:56

Of course it isn't. The problem isn't really nail polish though, its indicative of a deeper problem where boys aren't allowed to do stereotypically girls things because girls are inferior.

It isnt that much of a leap from "boys/men shouldnt wear nail polish" to "boys/men shouldn't do housework", "boys/men shouldn't be emotional" and "boys/men shouldn't be expected to look after their own children" because those are all "girls" things too.

Sweetpeach3 · 03/11/2019 08:01

Well i must admitt if I'm doing my DD nails an my Ds asks I won't say no. Same as my nephews. They've always had theirs done. Doesn't do them any harm what so ever it soon chips off after an hour anyway the cheap stuff!
Plus I regularly do a guys nails in the salon and it's as normal as it comes. You'd be supprised at how common it is for men to get manicures and yes some do have polish ? No big deal doesn't make them any less a man! Same as it doesn't make a woman less of a woman if she doesn't get her nails done! Xx

ForalltheSaints · 03/11/2019 08:44

I agree with the person who said no 4 year old should wear nail polish. I'd also ask those of you who use nail bars to make every effort to ensure no-one there is a victim or possible one of modern slavery, and if you suspect raise this with the police. If they are a recent migrant they could be.

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