Can we start an anti "nail" campaign?

[2rebecca]

As a GP who frequently washes her hands, allotment owner and instrument player I really hate the trend for women to have immaculate nails that cost a fortune, scratch people and mean women can't do anything useful. Where t f did this horrible trend come from and how do we give women back the use of their wonderful hands?

You really don’t need to. It’s horribly common. Clean and neat (maybe some nude polish if you like that kind of thing) is the only socially acceptable nail

This really is the thread that keeps on giving.

If men as a class wanted to paint their nails, they would. They're already free, being men in male supremacy. Patriarchy only oppresses women.

If men as a whole did and got together.

However, many men may not want to admit they want to paint their nails. Because th patriachy is as damaging to men as it is to women. I know 2 men who paint their toe nails. Whenever it comes up, people Male it known it's odd.

So on an individual level, no men wouldn't just start painting their nails.

"And no one bats an eyelid. We all manage to get jobs, get promoted and succeed in our careers."

Actually women are underrepresented at the top of many professions (men are obviously overrepresented). We're also paid less than men on average, or rather men are paid more than women. That's another social pressure, nothing to do with painted long nails though as you rightly say.

Why don't men want to look feminine?

Why don’t women want to look masculine? It’s all pretty fucked up either way but I don’t quite understand why (in this case) what men do is being held up as the ideal.

@Erythronium but the ones who want to do it not as part of their class will probably loose their jobs if they turn up to work like that. Patriarchy oppressed everyone.

LassOfFyvie

I was just starting to wonder as the boiler suit comment seemed to engender such anger yet is the logical conclusion.

If you detest painted nails as being ant feminist then you surely don't agree with make up or presumably feminine hairstyles. Then clothing - I guess dresses or low cut tops or heels or anything particularly feminine is out.

So why is a boiler suit so offensive?

I don’t quite understand why (in this case) what men do is being held up as the ideal

It always is. Anything feminine is always dismissed as lesser- women should not do it unless and until men do too.

@mum2jenny it’s a thing. Definitely a long standing social rule. Colourful nails are the equivalent of false eyelashes.

but the ones who want to do it not as part of their class will probably loose their jobs if they turn up to work

Where does being unable to spell simple words fall in your scale of being common? Better or worse than gaudily painted nails?

Why don't men want to look feminine?

Again what year do you live in?

Tons of men want to look feminine.

What's feminine has evolved over thousands of years.
Even going back to times when women in some countries have more rights than we did 100 years ago.

There was the period when young Male rockstars painted nails black though. Does anyone remember? And obviously it was famously a fashion amongst ancient Chinese noblemen to have long coloured nails. I’m not sure that painting nails is inherently feminine.

Why don't men want to look feminine?

Well, why don't women want to look masculine?

Vive le difference I say.

Well femininity is artifice and adornment as Lime Kiwi has helpfully confirmed so it's actually accessible for men. They could easily do it, drag queens and others already do.

@riddleyw autocorrect obviously 🙄

Actually women are underrepresented at the top of many professions (men are obviously overrepresented). We're also paid less than men on average, or rather men are paid more than women. That's another social pressure, nothing to do with painted long nails though as you rightly say.

Except you have no idea who I work for. And you dont know that actual women in SLT are not under represented. Our company has done an amazing amount of work to combat this.

Flexibalr working agreements are amazing. I work whenever I want from wherever I want so I can work, progress and be at home for my son.

It's going to look like I'm jumping ship here but why does "feminine" have to mean pretty,adorned,makeup,dresses etc?

Does that mean that women in trainers,jeans and hoodie with no makeup and what not is not feminine? Or not feminine enough?

Who decided what's feminine anyways? Unless you're using it to describe things used/worn by women due to societal constructs and patriarchal rules. Like dresses instead of trousers. In which case even if you don't feel you are (and fair enough many women don't) then yes you are subjecting yourself to the rules of the "system ". Some women realise that and do it anyways,and that's ok.

I'm a woman,I'm feminine with or without extras.

It alsorputinr corrects make to Male (with the capital)

On and we still dont judge women or men on their nails.

Autocorrect does not change lose to loose. Obviously.

Quite like a boiler suit:

www.next.co.uk/style/st339102#320974

But men are just as prone to artifice and adornment. Some go as far as to havecosmetic surgery just as women do. Perhaps the extent tends to be slightly lesser but it’s not a predominantly female thingtodo.

They could easily do it, drag queens and others already do.

They could. We could all go to work dressed as clowns I suppose if we wanted to. Don't suppose it would go down well in most work places would it?

Why do any of us conform? And no one is making women do this - it is entirely free choice to get your nails done so not sure why we need to make men do it. If they want to do it, then good luck to them.

boggles false eyelashes? Just why would you? Serious question?

What's wrong with mascara if you want fancy eyelashes?

Personally if I'm judged on my eyelashes or my nails, it says more about the person judging me, than it says about me!

@nottonightjosepheen well no one would wear obvious blush would they? Unnatural Male up is for young girls/people who never grew up. Women wear boratiral looking cosmetics, nail polish included 🤷‍♀️