Language for Men's Skirts and Skirted Men

[Chip]

I have a couple recent articles on the language some people use in our space, and potential terms that could be used:

What Do You Call a Man in a Skirt? Every Term, Explained.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Skirt Euphemisms

The latter is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but (I think) also includes some useful terms.

I'm curious if anyone uses their own terms, or if one in the lists resonates.

[jamie001]

I am gender non-conforming and somewhat effeminate and proud of it!

[Modoc]

No one asks women in pants if they're crossdressers. But when a man wears a skirt, people reach for words.

This sums it up as far as I am concerned.

[Barleymower]

No one asks women in pants if they're crossdressers. But when a man wears a skirt, people reach for words.

This sums it up as far as I am concerned.

If we don't stand up and wear it noone ever will. We give courage to others.

[Stu]

Alternative name for men's skirts? How about:

ANTIPANTS

[STEVIE]

Sounds like something worn by a BBC directoire.
Jokes aside, it doesn't need more words.
A skirt is still a skirt regardless of who wears it.
Steve

[Modoc]

No one asks women in pants if they're crossdressers. But when a man wears a skirt, people reach for words.

This sums it up as far as I am concerned.

If we don't stand up and wear it noone ever will. We give courage to others.

No doubt about it.

[Chip]

Alternative name for men's skirts? How about:

ANTIPANTS

Heh, I like this one... added it to the list

[Chip]

Sounds like something worn by a BBC directoire.
Jokes aside, it doesn't need more words.
A skirt is still a skirt regardless of who wears it.
Steve

I agree. This was mostly satirical... to poke fun at the need to rename 'skirt'.

[Uncle Al]

I agree. This was mostly satirical... to poke fun at the need to rename 'skirt'.

Poking fun CAN benefit our "movement" by taking the current "stigma" out of the spotlight,
replacing it with Satirical humor - IMHO taking the 'edge' off of it and get people thinking.

Just my $.02 worth

Uncle Al


P.S. - I like the comment - ANTIPANTS

[KeithWearsSkirts]

It is worth remembering that the bottom of a long coat is also called a skirt. So, most men wear garments with skirts in some form.

Personally, having come to skirts via genderless clothing, I am very comfortable embracing the term 'skirt'.

There are numerous examples of groups reclaiming terms that have become pejorative as a form of empowerment. I think that it makes sense for men to reclaim 'skirt' in the context of menswear.

[KeithWearsSkirts]

Regarding the first article: From a fashion perspective, my understanding is that 'androgynous', 'unisex' and 'genderless' are essentially synonymous. From a sociological perspective, however, there are differences in emphasis and connotation. I have come to prefer 'genderless' because it places the emphasis on gender rather than sex, in contrast to 'unisex', and because it avoids the gender binary implied by 'androgynous' due to its construction out of 'andro' (male) and 'gyn" (female). However, I first got interested in genderless clothing through the concept of unisex clothing because I am Gen X and unisex clothing is connected with our generation. So, 'unisex' has a soft spot in my heart even if I prefer 'genderless'. I also like the fact that 'genderless' resonates with the idea that clothes do not have gender (e.g., Yotka, 2000).

Yotka, S. (2000). The future of retail is genderless. Vogue. https://www.vogue.com/article/the-futur ... genderless

[crfriend]

So, 'unisex' has a soft spot in my heart even if I prefer 'genderless'. I also like the fact that 'genderless' resonates with the idea that clothes do not have gender (e.g., Yotka, 2000).

The problem here is the historical fact that the tern "unisex" was merely code for "butching up the women" and turning them into ersatz men. It NEVER, EVER (at least in the USA) referred to things moving in the other direction.

[Barleymower]

So, 'unisex' has a soft spot in my heart even if I prefer 'genderless'. I also like the fact that 'genderless' resonates with the idea that clothes do not have gender (e.g., Yotka, 2000).

The problem here is the historical fact that the tern "unisex" was merely code for "butching up the women" and turning them into ersatz men. It NEVER, EVER (at least in the USA) referred to things moving in the other direction.

At seven my mum handed me a paisley shirt and matching tie on elastic. I liked the shirt very much but was not so keen on the tie, so I questioned it to my mum. She said "it's unisex".
I wasn't questioning the gender, i was wondering where they got an identical tie. I knew better than to question her further.

My mum was very anti all that. "Those men!" She said "they want to get hold of boys and turn them".
I said it must be good (twenty four years old by now with a steady girlfriend), maybe I should try it? She pursed her lips and told me to shut up.

I think she would have blown a fuse if she saw me in a skirt. God rest her soul.

[crfriend]

My mum was very anti all that. "Those men!" She said "they want to get hold of boys and turn them".
I said it must be good (twenty four years old by now with a steady girlfriend), maybe I should try it? She pursed her lips and told me to shut up.

I think she would have blown a fuse if she saw me in a skirt. God rest her soul.

And that's where the lifelong policing of men begins -- right at home -- and it never stops thanks to social inertia.