After the English singer/songwriter Harry Styles broke history as the first man on the cover of Vogue, and did it in a dress, the far right in America regarded it as an attack on traditional masculinity.
Candace Owens, in a now viral Twitter response, said that “There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack.” Owen’s statements sparked a national debate about gender roles, masculinity, and, yes, men in dresses. Most recently, Styles even commented on these remarks – posting to Instagram with the caption “Bring back manly men.”
Critics argue that the left wants to “feminize our men” and there is no society that can survive without them; making the case that it is unnatural for men to wear dresses or even act feminine. But, at the end of the day – they’re all wrong: there is no such thing as “masculinity” or “femininity” in the first place.
When most right-wingers mention masculinity, they usually mean American masculinity: dominance, a lack of emotion, ego oriented, emphasis on religion, and traditional family structures. But, they also seem to conveniently forget the multiple cultures today in which men don’t conform to their idea of “masculinity” and hold men to such constricting ideals of manhood. In many parts of the East, which Owens seemed to point to as a pillar of masculinity, American conceptions of masculinity are not the norm. In India, for example, many men wear Kurtas – long garments – which would be considered dresses in America. It is even common for men in India to show emotion and hold hands with male friends while walking together. In South Korea, it is common, even expected, for men to wear makeup while in different social situations. And, in Japan, men traditionally wore kimonos – a choice of clothing which would also mirror a dress in America. Beyond the East, though, there are still many other cultures which do not treat masculinity the same way as America’s constricted sense of what a man “should be.” Nordic countries, for example, have little separation between male and female gender roles – emphasizing the responsibility of both men and women to be modest, tender, and concerned with quality of life.
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Just a few hundred years ago, our understanding of masculinity would be completely different from what was practiced. In both Britain and America, before the nineteenth century, men in high positions of power would wear large wigs, makeup, and heels – adorned by flowing and extravagant clothing choices diametrically opposed to what people like Candace Owens seem to believe is “normal.” Even George Washington, according to the logic of those opposed to the Vogue cover, was somehow wrong to wear what he did. The bigger point is this: the very idea of what it means to be “strong”, in relation to being a man, is one that is fluid and socially constructed – with no universal continuity.
Beyond that, though, the argument that men wearing dresses is somehow unethical or even “perverted” is ignorant at best and harmful at worst. There are many cultures today in which men wearing dresses is more than acceptable, and can even be considered the norm. In addition, throughout history, there have been countless societies that flip our ideas of gender and sexuality out of the window. PBS even has an interactive map showing the hundreds of gender – diverse cultures that have existed in the past and to this day, carrying with them ideas of gender expression and identity that allow for fluidity. To argue that a piece of fabric on someone’s body can be considered wrong is as logical as arguing that a certain favorite color is immoral. More than that, it demonizes entire cultures and furthers the idea that America is somehow superior and more knowledgeable than all other peoples and customs.
All in all, the idea that a man in a dress is somehow “wrong” is completely unfounded in any sense of logic. However, it shows the way American gender roles have come to control all aspects of life. People’s expression, emotion, interests, speech patterns, clothing choices, hair styles – every aspect of existence in America is policed by what we have, in the last two hundred years, constructed as “normal” for a man or woman. But, isn’t America supposed to be the freest nation on Earth? If a man can’t wear a dress, what can he do? America must work towards a reality without strict gender roles – where we allow people to exist as themselves. This includes a man in a dress who wears makeup and works in fashion as much as it includes a man with a business suit who works in finance and enjoys football. So, no, the world doesn’t need more manly men – there is no such thing as “manly.”
Jacob is a student at Viera High School who is an advocate for queer rights in his county. You can keep up with his work on instagram @jacobgelman.
brentskuba
This is a very well written piece and what a pleasant surprise to learn the author is a high school student. The brilliance of this generation gives me hope that some good can come of the frightening circumstances of life in 2020.
Thad
You could just say Candace Owens is a…stop, there’s enough nastiness.
Redefining manly? Worthwhile.
Roy Ajax
Almost everything in this article is inaccurate or straight up wrong. Candice was not talking about traditional dress like the kimono or kilts, but men feminizing themselves with female dress. South Koren men do not wear make up on the regular however there has been an up-tick in men buying beauty products, but this is the younger generation that is influenced by K-Pop. There definitely is a difference between masculine and feminine, and trying to ignore it is wrong.
Josh447
You’re right on. It’s pretty obvious this author is a crossdresser. Show me a man in history in a hoop skirt or ball gown (short of entertainers for entertainment value) that became the norm for that society and we can talk.
My hit on men’s and women’s bodies is that men are v shaped angular and linear shaped where women are hour glass and round shaped. Hence women’s clothes mirror that in plume. Men don’t lend to that model as they sport straight lined clothing to conform to their v shaped linear body structure. To try and trade it out is a bit like wearing pure white in winter or mixing strawberries with carrots. It’s just not a fit.
I’m not going to degrade someone for mixing oil and water and expecting it to blend, if that’s your thing have at it. But don’t expect everyone to sign on to Christmas decorations in July. You’re then being doubly unrealistic.
Cam
No surprise that the same right wing troll that always blames LGBTQ victims of bigotry and defends people who attack them would knee jerk defend Candace Owens who makes money off of giving coer to racist Republicans.
Just couldn’t let this one go, could you sweetie?
Donston
How about we let people wear what the hell they want to instead of being concerned by what is “masculine” or what is “feminine”. Being threatened by a male pop star wearing a dress is a sign of your own insecurities, nothing more. And have we forgotten that male entertainers have been rocking “women’s clothes” for decades? It’s not anything new.
On the other hand, I’m not sure Queerty is the place to push this message. This site consistently props up conventional masculinity as what’s most desired and admirable.
Chrisk
The left wants men to wear dresses and Marxism be taught to all the children. Come up with some propaganda a little more original you dumb biach.
Yeah, just what the right wing is looking for. A black women telling them how superior they are. She’s a got a good grift though.
My2CentsWorth
I have noticed your comments. You are one who frequently come across as a wise person. Have you ever considered starting a site where people could talk about a variety of topics related to LGBTQ issues? Not just making comments to articles on Queerty’s website. A site where people could start new threads as well as make comments to on-going threads.
Liquid Silver
Now mind you, if somebody wants to wear a dress and makeup, I’m fine with that.
Required? Get out of my way, sistah, because there’s going to be a slapping. I look horrible in a dress. And pure Marxism fails like most other pure -isms. 🙂
People will, as always, define what they want to be. I’d rather the left be about letting that happen and being happy with people being who they want to be, rather than defining what’s acceptable and what’s not.
The right seems to have taken over that space. Yet, more and more, the left seems to scream exclusivity in their rhetoric as well. Too much more and I’m outta here and heading for the happy medium.
Gadfeal
Maybe, Ms Owens, you should be more qualified to protest about the “masculinization of women”, that does NOT seem to be a hot topic for “traditionalists” like yourself. Once could argue that the “feminization of men” (if that were to be a negative) is less responsible for the “degradation” of society than is “masculinization of women”.
What’s “Good for the Gander is also good for the Goose”!
Heywood Jablowme
“in both Britain and America, before the nineteenth century, men in high positions of power would wear large wigs, makeup, and heels…”
Yep, and Candace doesn’t seem to have noticed that manly man Trump wears makeup (lots!), heels (he ain’t 6’3″), and some kind of wig (or whatever that is).
boymikefl
I’m always so impressed with people debating with these idiots that make a living with hate speech. Limbaugh, FOX & this one. I loved the little “color” jab. Candice lots of people (Trump) don’t like the color “black” even though his orange make-up is from the Dollar Store. Speaking of “pigs” in make-up.
Boy George argued in the 80’s with a woman wearing pants. These are just close minded. My darling Harry has traveled the world with a young (cute), open mind. Candice has only been from the ghetto to FOX opinion channel thinking she’s educated. Sh*t for brains that gets payed to spew it on the opinion channel. I’m just guessing what, is she a guest there or just another hateful person? What misery. Paid to hate.
Roy Ajax
Candace is from the ghetto? I haven’t heard that. Are you assuming just becuase she’s a person of color? And are you saying that people from the “ghetto” should stay there?
Donston
Some folks don’t even realize how racist or classist they’re come off with they’re trying to make “Liberal” points.
iminheatlikeacat
Your post sounds full of hate. But you’re on the right side of things so your hate isn’t really hate, it’s just truth…right?
James
candace owens is an idiot, mentally ill, a loser and a troll. WHO GIVES A RAT’S ASS WHAT SHE THINKS.
mudgeguy
Went to Kenya years ago on an educational trip (agent junket) and when we landed at Nairobi, the first thing I noticed were two good looking male security guards holding holding hands and I was like what the??? Our guide explained it was extremely common and considered polite to do so. I had the best two weeks of my life holding hands with the most handsome of men. It should become a worldwide custom.
iminheatlikeacat
I assume hand holding was as far as it went because Kenya imprisons those found guilty of engaging in same-sex acts. The best two weeks of your life because you got to hold hands with men in public? May I ask what country you reside in?
Dannyzackery
Screw less masculine men. We need more gay masculine men and more feminine straight men. It’s always gay or bi men that are always normed to be feminine, it should be straight people now. It’s only fair.
radiooutmike
Uhh, Toms Of Finland called; they wanted their art back that you bought.
sebastian-michaelis
Although interesting article I would need to point out that no one likes being told what to think or what to do. What I wear is up to myself and I don’t care what clothes I put on or if I buy them from the womens section or the mens.
Many of the clothes I buy are on the internet not because I dont want to buy from a shop but because in the UK there are few shops that provide the same space to buy either male or female items. The split on male female in some stores is 90% female and 10% male floor space. While I could shop from the female section without a 50-50 percentage and ditching the sections how would we promote buying from both????
Without change towards no judgemental attitudes in the industry on the shop floor then we only reinforce the steriotypes already in sociaty.
2020 has been a year of being told what to think and what to do and I will do everything I can to promote eqality rather than putting people into box’s.
Life isnt about changing what people think, it’s about providing the same equal opertunities for all.
wooly101
Another sissy telling us how to think.
rickywintour
Yet you probably suck more dick than him so who’s really the sissy.
splunky
@rickywintour
That comment makes you look just as dumb and self-hating as wooly101. You two should hang out.
Cam
If women like Candae Ownes, Anne Coulter, and Sarah Palin were as Christian and traditional as they claim, then they should know that there are rules in the Bible prohibiting women from trying to influence a man’s opinion.
So miss Traditional Christian Canadace, you just violated Bible law.
Norm
The world doesn’t but I do.
bachy
Many of us embrace femininity and gender-fluidity while stridently objecting to any expectations of traditional masculinity on gay dating and hookup sites. But why do these same individuals invariably state they are seeking “masculine” romantic partners – men who epitomize the traditional gender and sex roles they find so objectionable?
radiooutmike
These norms that Owens and their ilk talk about are always impermanent. In the 1920s pink was a boys color…?
I don’t like traditional norms being peddled because these norms mean you don’t think for yourself. It’s contrived and subject to change.
Traditional ideas about sexes, but especially masculinity (at least in this context ) are obsolete.