Men can Wear Skirts

By: Yosephine Mary Agipta Wijaya

We must truly understand what it means to wear specific garments that do not specify someone's sexuality and how society's structure shapes people's perspectives based on majority views. One time when I wore a skirt, someone stated to me as if I were being feminine, which is false; I told the person that a skirt is just made out of fabric, which does not define sexuality, and men can wear it too; however, they refused to accept this fact. At the same time, I saw influencers wearing it as part of expressing themselves—lots of people comment negatively on the stigma and the misogyny ingrained in our perspectives towards specific fashions; I emphasise that there are no restrictions when it comes to fashion, coming out of your comfort zone to shine out the beauty inside you.

Focusing on my local context, I see a clear resistance to men wearing skirts. This is confusing to me because a skirt is not just about utility; it's also a powerful form of aesthetics that helps people define their identity and express themselves freely. So, why the opposition to men in skirts when it's ultimately just a piece of fabric? Let me break it down. In my experience, my community holds a traditional, almost monarchical mindset—skirts embody womanhood, and trousers embody manhood. This rigid division makes it impossible for individuals to wear what they want without facing prejudice and public scrutiny.

A simple garment has become a topic of controversy nowadays. From my own experience and observations in my environment, I have come to understand the resistance to men in skirts as deeply tied to society's fear of homosexuality and its rigid rules for how men should behave. When I wear a skirt or see others do so, the most common reaction is not about the style or colour but an immediate, often negative, assumption about one's sexuality. I have observed that people are quick to label a man in a skirt as gay; additionally, due to the homophobia that still occurs, that label is then used to mock and control him, to push him back into a 'masculine' box. In my view, the conflict is not really about the piece of fabric itself, but about the fear of challenging a system that tells us there is only one right way to be a man. This prejudice is evident in a clear double standard that I have noticed within our vicinity, where we now fully accept women wearing trousers, a style once considered masculine and controversial, but we often react with confusion or hostility when a man wears a skirt, as if we view the latter not as a fashion choice, but as a threat to the established order, which I believe is rooted in a devaluation of anything perceived as feminine. While I understand that people can be wary of what they are not used to, and that this is not always done with malicious intent, this mindset ultimately creates stigma and limits self-expression. Indubitably, I see a change beginning as more people, regardless of their sexuality, start to embrace skirts simply as a form of personal expression.

To conclude, while the skirt has evolved in style and fashion over the centuries, its original purpose remains unchanged—it continues to provide functionality, aesthetic appeal, and a comfortable way to cover the lower body, also serving as a means of self-expression without the restriction based on one's sexuality. The enduring relevance of the skirt reassures us of its place in fashion history, despite shifting trends and evolving societal perceptions.