Just today, the New York Times posted this column: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/13/fashion/manly-manicures-end-in-color.html
Then, I saw this from Yahoo! Shine - also posted today: http://shine.yahoo.com/beauty/manly-manis-men-now-requesting-color-shellac-nails-214300474.html
And, finally, this tweet from "The VIEW": https://twitter.com/theviewtv/status/345198269703536642
If The View discusses this tomorrow, or in the near future, I think a whole lot of women will be suggesting nail color to their men... and we'll be seeing it more often.
My thoughts on this should be obvious (I AM a male nail blogger...) but for the sake of those who haven't read back, basically this:
- It's REALLY just paint - reserving it for one gender only, makes as much sense as applying a gender exclusion to hats... or sweatshirts.. or painted cars.
- It looks good, it has the ability to improve the look of one's nails - and generally, men's nails need the most help in the appearance department.
- It has no magic powers - it can't "make" me anything, or change who I am, or define me in any way. It does convey some information about who I have always been - committed to gender equality, intolerant of sexism and prejudice, and defiant of "herd mentality" (where people blindly follow customs that they assume to exist based solely on observation of others blindly following them).
- In a society that is dedicated to equality, what is OK for anyone is OK for everyone.
- Some people see my nail color and make assumptions about me - but I know they are wrong, and I know that their inaccurate assumptions do not define me.
- I wear nail color as a man - I do not consider this "crossdressing" in any way, nor is it "an expression of my femininity" (I do not see any inherent femininity in a bottle of paint) - and as I see it, if my masculinity was so weak that it would be threatened by a few drops of paint (or dependent upon the opinions of strangers), then it would be too weak to carry a "man card".
- Nail color is fun - mine has inspired many interesting conversations and interactions with people, which has enriched my life in many ways.
I'm reposting this, Steve. As a nail tech, and the wife of a male gel polish wearer, I am super-excited about this. :)
ReplyDeleteGo right ahead! And, thanks for sharing! :)
DeleteSo often, in the pictures I see of men's painted nails, the nails themselves are such a nice size and shape. As someone who genetics has treated to shorter and less symmetrical nailbeds, I was heartened by the picture accompanying the NYT article.
ReplyDeleteI wear nail color as a man - I do not consider this "crossdressing" in any way, nor is it "an expression of my femininity" (I do not see any inherent femininity in a bottle of paint) - and as I see it, if my masculinity was so weak that it would be threatened by a few drops of paint (or dependent upon the opinions of strangers), then it would be too weak to carry a "man card".
ReplyDelete________________________________________________________
The same applies to fake breasts and wiggs etc. The position and the purpose makes the difference. If ya wanna look like a female charicature, go for it.
I wear nail color as a man - I do not consider this "crossdressing" in any way, nor is it "an expression of my femininity" (I do not see any inherent femininity in a bottle of paint) - and as I see it, if my masculinity was so weak that it would be threatened by a few drops of paint (or dependent upon the opinions of strangers), then it would be too weak to carry a "man card".
ReplyDelete________________________________________________________
The same applies to fake breasts and wiggs etc. The position and the purpose makes the difference. If ya wanna look like a female charicature, go for it.