Society changes then forgets!

[SkirtRevolution]

I thought this is interesting. It shows how far women have come in their freedom to wear whatever they like, yet men are still restricted. Every woman owes their right to wear pants to a few women that had the boldness to step out in public despite what soceity said or did. What are we prepared to do to see men win their right to wear skirts as men without prejudice.

Evelyn “Jackie” Bross (left) and Catherine Barscz (right) at the Racine Avenue Police Station, Chicago, June 5, 1943

In 1943 Evelyn “Jackie” Bross of Cherokee heritage, was arrested on her way home from work for violating Chicago’s cross-dressing and public indecency ordinance. Bross, who was 19 at the time, and a machinist at a WWII defense plant, wore men’s clothes and sported a man’s hair cut – that was more than enough for the Chicago police. Chicago possessed an ordinance outlawing cross-dressing as early as 1851.

For the bulk of the city’s history cross-dressing was a type of indecent exposure. The ordinance decrees that “If any person shall appear in a public place…in a dress not belonging to his or her sex…. He or she shall be subject to a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each offense”.

When Bross appeared in court, Chicago was captivated by the story. In court, Bross reportedly informed the judge that she chose to wear men’s clothing because it was “more comfortable than women’s clothes and handy for work.” She openly declared, “I wish I was a boy. I never did anything wrong. I just like to wear men’s clothes… [but] everyone knows I’m a woman.”

In the end, Bross was ordered to see a court psychiatrist for six months and Chicago’s cross-dressing code was revised. As of 1943, the code allowed for individuals to wear clothing of the opposite sex, provided it was not worn “with the intent to conceal his or her sex.” Arrests continued in spite of the alteration and the Chicago code regarding cross-dressing would not be eliminated until 1978.

[GerdG]

And now I as a man can wear any skirt or even a dress, should I like to.

Progress, it is.

Greg

[SkirtRevolution]

That's true GerdG, they opened the door for men and women alike. I am often challenged bythe boldness of these women to go against social norm in a time when it cost a lot more than a few stares from others.

[SkirtedViking]

Yep but a woman nowadays is not an attraction in whatever not-"feminine" apparel (the apparel does not end with just wearing trousers),while in my country even a man in a kilt is a notorious sight.