Men in skirts - why don't more men wear skirts?

[CervixSampler]

At the risk of a bun fight this is a genuine question.
I was at a rock festival yesterday and there were a few men in skirts rocking the whole steampunk look. One guy was in a red tartan kilt but I didn't get a good look at the rest of his outfit-he was quite different to the others dressed in steampunk. I think it was a denim jacket. These men looked amazing and it got me thinking as to why when women now wear trousers (as opposed to historically predominantly being in dresses and skirts), that men don't wear skirts to the same extent. Is it socialisation? Blatant sexism? Practicalities? Lack of availability outside of cosplay type retailers? I prefer trousers/jeans because I hate my legs, I'd end up with it caught in my knickers, thigh rub, the whole tights/stockings/socks/footwear issue and my tendency to sit legs akimbo. I love dresses but sadly we aren't compatible.

My ds is 6 and chose to wear a flower crown. There were plenty of men also wearing these. A Slayer T-shirt and a flower crown combo is an unusual look on a man but no one batted an eye. Maybe festivals are some kind of alternative universe in general where people are more likely to flout restrictive norms for clothing? Whatever it is I found it fantastic.

I'm just watching How To Train Your Dragon for the millionth time and I've only just noticed that a few of the male characters wear skirts or in the case of Fishlegs a kind of shift dress.

I can see myself going down a history of clothing rabbit hole with this but yesterday really piqued my interest and got me wondering why it's acceptable for women to wear trousers but not for men to wear skirts/dresses.

[NiceGerbil]

Act 1842 about mining-

'The prohibition of underground female labour caused much suffering and hardship and was greatly resented in south-west Lancashire.[5] The employment of women did not end abruptly in 1842, with the connivance of some employers, women dressed as men continued to work underground for several years. Penalties for employing women were small and inspectors were few and some women were so desperate for work they willingly worked illegally for less pay.[8] Children continued working underground at some pits. At Coppull Colliery's Burgh Pit, three females died after an explosion in November 1846, one was eleven years old.[9]'

[NiceGerbil]

It's really interesting.

Some history orgs are focusing on the women as the history and their role has generally been written out of it.

[NiceGerbil]

See also munitions factories ww1.

Dangerous work. Explosions. Organ damage due to chemical exposure.

Another site said was the point that women being paid less than men was justified/ formalised.

Also the success of their football teams in terms of spectators led to FA effectively barring women from playing.

All really worth looking into.

museum.wales/articles/2053/Canary-Girls-/

[deydododatdodontdeydo]

@NiceGerbil

When women went down mines I expect they wore the same as the men.

Well, some of the men worked naked, and the women worked in just pants - topless.
This was fine until some Lord paid a visit and was scandalised by it:
www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/the-scandal-of-female-miners-in-19th-century-britain/

[deydododatdodontdeydo]

Oops, I see someone has already posted that...

[Sciatico]

I go commando to stop things getting squashed and if I wore a skirt instead of shorts my bits would show when sitting down.

[Sciatico]

... I also wouldn't want to be mistaken for a woman frm behind.

[Maassi]

I adore a good looking man in a sherwani or shalwar kameez... Especially if the sleeves are rolled up

m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0rBPZrEDVc

[Changedmynameforthispost]

[quote Maassi]I adore a good looking man in a sherwani or shalwar kameez... Especially if the sleeves are rolled up

m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0rBPZrEDVc[/quote]
I have a weakness for good looking men in dishdasha

[CervixSampler]

@Sciatico why would being mistaken for a woman from behind be a problem for you and what makes you think you would be if you wore a skirt? Men are generally taller, with narrow hips and broader shoulders and have a totally different gait so a skirt wouldn't normally say "woman" to me anymore than a woman in trousers would say "man" so I'm interested in your perspective.

[KittenKong]

My brother was quite thin as a young man and is short. He had long flowing locks and did get mistaken for a ‘lassie’ from behind in his youth. He survived.

[dazbootu52]

i wear skirts and tights every day out and to work much cooler when sitting down for long times much cooler then trousers my skirts are knee length fined it much better to drive car in skirt and tights and its a good look come on boys lets get with it see wot u are missing

[phizog]

I do wonder if men find their crown jewels too exposed with a skirt. I think I would if I had dangly bits. Suppose it's why women wear bras too - just feels more supported (not a comparison really but psychologically there's something there).

I also think trousers are more practical. Legs warm, no flipping up or flying about in wind and no decent sized pockets. No back pockets either. As always men choosing comfort.

[AKASammyScrounge]

@TalbotAMan

The taboo is too strong. While women can wear 'men's' clothing and, by and large, get away with it, for a man to wear 'women's' clothing will be taken as an indication that he is either gay or a sexual pervert/predator, or, at least, that is what we fear.

Historically, men wore skirts in this country and they still do in Scotland and, to a degree, Ireland. They still wear skirts in some other countries. Even then, what they wear is different from women.

The famous portrait of Henry VIII by Holbein (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Henry_VIII) shows him wearing a mini-skirt (though accessorised with a codpiece) with stockings and slippers. But the women of the day wore full lenght dresses.

Excuse me - a kilt is not a skirt.

[Lunar27]

I personally wouldn't have a problem wearing a skirt but from talking to my wife/daughters, and seeing what they occasionally wear, they're not that practical. I can't say I'm into the look either. Not because of taboo but it's not really my style. Pleated or flared would be too flappy and a tight pencil wouldn't be too different to shorts, except I'd have pockets to put wallet, phone and keys etc.

Fashion wise I'm happy wearing some women's items as a lot of women's sneakers/trainers have nicer colourways and some sports clothes (hoodies/sweaters) are lovely. Only trouble is I tried a woman's ASICS sweater on recently but the arms were just too short, even on a large. In this instance unisex would be preferable but there aren't many lines available right now.

[Lunar27]

Perhaps another discussion but my youngest hates a lot of women's clothes and has taken to wearing mine. She's not into bags so finds it difficult to buy jeans or anything with useable pockets.

She also baulks when she sees her mum dressing for work or to go out and struggles with a zipped or buttoned back. Even her sports bra has rear fastening straps. She thinks these things have been designed by sadistic idiots . I can see her point.

[alrightmebabby]

Maybe men not wearing skirts is just a cultural thing these days and there are still a lot of old fashioned views that men wear trousers and women wear skirts/dresses (at least in the west, except kilts in Scotland). But I also think from a comfort and practical point of view that maybe men feel more comfortable with their "tackle" held in place better in trousers than in a skirt? Sure, they most likely wear underpants too but perhaps trousers and shorts feel more secure than a skirt or dress that has lots of open space below?

[AKASammyScrounge]

@deydododatdodontdeydo

Men have historically been mainly about practicality, trousers are more practical than a skirt.

Half of the women on this thread seem to think this, the other half seem to think skirts are more practical
It's just a matter of opinion.
There's not much practical about sweltering in an office in long trousers, socks and shoes, compared to thin summer dress and open, strappy shoes - so why aren't men talking the practical option?

They don't want to look silly, I suppose. Think of a gigantic rugby player in dainty sandals and a dress with spaghetti straps.Pleasr no!

[NotMyGenderGoblin]

@LubaLuca

I think it's the tights that put most men off. Britain isn't often warm enough for bare legs all day.

There's only about 4 months a year in southern england where I wouldn't wear tights under jeans. I barely exagerate.

I think stigma is a part of it... I wonder the extent to which the stigma is now the stigma of being seen as trans?

But mainly think that men go for what is easiest and practical, with a side-helping of "hopefully what I wear is acceptable to women I might be interested in". A skirt is a risk if you're trying to attract straight women - and a massive risk in many environments - and a pair of jeans is just so practical.

[SudokuMania]

Scotland is the land of kilts for men - but at schools the girls wear kilts but not the boys - I wonder why this is.

[TeiTetua]

Clearly, in Scotland they are encouraging the lasses to be transvestites.