A Question From My Mother

[Dans-le-Vent]

"Why do men want to wear skirts?" "I mean pants are so convenient."
^This is when I point out how we ALL know that women weren't allowed to wear trousers and such.

I try my best but it doesn't seem to be enough(AND IT NEVER IS!!! )

Does anyone here have a fitting answer for her?(Nothing insulting)or information on what/who's behind this movement for men in skirts?

[crfriend]

Does anyone here have a fitting answer for her?(Nothing insulting)or information on what/who's behind this movement for men in skirts?

I suspect that when dealing with parents it's likely best to simply be quite honest about things; parents have a way of scenting fear and untruth.

First and foremost, I'd posit that you need to enumerate the reasons why you like skirts and then boil those reasons down into a cogent statement of "why" you like them. Likely reasons might include:

• I find skirts more comfortable than trousers
• I like the way skirts move when I am in motion
• Skirts don't rub against my skin in the way that trousers do
• Skirts are much cooler in summer (and, also, that they can be warmer in winter (the "mitten argument"))
• Skirts allow me to express my sense of style in a way that trousers don't.
• I like them.

Feel free to plug your own reasons in and delete ones that I've put forth that you don't necessarily agree with; this is, after all, a very individual choice.

Once armed with the tick-list of "whys", condense that down into your statement -- and don't take "No" for an answer; it's your body you've decided to adorn so, so it's ultimately your choice (for better or worse). Tossing the "But women can wear pants!" argument at the outset I believe is self-defeating; there must be a reason why the decision to dress in an unconventional style was undertaken, so that reason must be expressed a a positive light rather than immediately going on the defensive. There exist many positive reasons to "shove both legs down one pipe"; why focus on a negative, and ultimately futile, defensive argument?

[RichardA]

•I like them.

We shouldn't have to dream up excuses for wearing what you want too

[crfriend]

We shouldn't have to dream up excuses for wearing what you want too

In an ideal world, I completely concur; however, we live in a world that is sometimes quite distant from any sort of ideal, and if we're to deliberately look vastly different than the herd we'd better be able to back up our motivations with something more than a "Why not?" when that won't cut it.

[cessna152towser]

Trousers may be convenient for women, and OK women can look good in figure hugging trousers, but trousers are uncomfortable and impractical for the male anatomy. Skirts for men are traditional and comfortable. It is only in western society since the industrial revolution that men wear trousers. The idea of trousers probably derived from the need to protect the inner thighs when riding a horse. Not many men ride horses nowadays.

[Dans-le-Vent]

Trousers may be convenient for women, and OK women can look good in figure hugging trousers, but trousers are uncomfortable and impractical for the male anatomy. Skirts for men are traditional and comfortable. It is only in western society since the industrial revolution that men wear trousers. The idea of trousers probably derived from the need to protect the inner thighs when riding a horse. Not many men ride horses nowadays.

Exactamundo. That's another point I brought up. (Thanks for all post, everyone)

And to be perfectly honest, it isn't that my mother disapproves, no;In fact this type of behavior should be expected from me,I work in theatre.(Yes, that's "re.") It's basically the fact that she can't seem to grasp the idea or understand but of course, as the point was made here, she doesn't have to.

[Since1982]

Your MoM said: "Why do men want to wear skirts?" "I mean pants are so convenient."

Tell her to grab a pair of straight leg ankle length pants, start putting them on and while getting the 2nd leg in have the front door get knocked on by the Police (who are ALWAYS in a hurry), run to the front door to open it while hopping on one foot with the other foot tangled in the other pant leg....THEN Try the entire same scenario with a high calf length pencil skirt with a 4" high slit in the rear. That's just ONE of the benefits of a skirt for anyone, including men.

I chose a pencil skirt to make it nearly as difficult as getting in tight trousers might be, but truthfully, TONS easier to get into.

There is also always the other truth, "Because we want to and feel we have as much of a right to wear what we please as women do". After all, regardless of clothing, WE still look manly and THEY still look womanly.

[Jack Williams]

Does anyone here have a fitting answer for her?(Nothing insulting)or information on what/who's behind this movement for men in skirts?

I suspect that when dealing with parents it's likely best to simply be quite honest about things; parents have a way of scenting fear and untruth.

First and foremost, I'd posit that you need to enumerate the reasons why you like skirts and then boil those reasons down into a cogent statement of "why" you like them. Likely reasons might include:

• I find skirts more comfortable than trousers
• I like the way skirts move when I am in motion
• Skirts don't rub against my skin in the way that trousers do
• Skirts are much cooler in summer (and, also, that they can be warmer in winter (the "mitten argument"))
• Skirts allow me to express my sense of style in a way that trousers don't.
• I like them.

Feel free to plug your own reasons in and delete ones that I've put forth that you don't necessarily agree with; this is, after all, a very individual choice.

Once armed with the tick-list of "whys", condense that down into your statement -- and don't take "No" for an answer; it's your body you've decided to adorn so, so it's ultimately your choice (for better or worse). Tossing the "But women can wear pants!" argument at the outset I believe is self-defeating; there must be a reason why the decision to dress in an unconventional style was undertaken, so that reason must be expressed a a positive light rather than immediately going on the defensive. There exist many positive reasons to "shove both legs down one pipe"; why focus on a negative, and ultimately futile, defensive argument?

That list says it all!! I too, just LIKE them!

[Since1982]

Dans said: The idea of trousers probably derived from the need to protect the inner thighs when riding a horse.

There's no "probably" in that equation, it's an historical fact that the Vikings had the idea of using wide strips of leather wrapped around the thighs under their tunics or leather skirts to protect their skin from the rough backs of a horse with nothing but a thin piece of cloth as a saddle. When the Romans conquered the known "world" of the day, they pre-empted that idea and improved it into actual trousers of leather worn under the tunic. Modern CHAPS are also ancestored by those same devices.

[skafloki]

Trousers may be convenient for women, and OK women can look good in figure hugging trousers, but trousers are uncomfortable and impractical for the male anatomy. Skirts for men are traditional and comfortable. It is only in western society since the industrial revolution that men wear trousers. The idea of trousers probably derived from the need to protect the inner thighs when riding a horse. Not many men ride horses nowadays.

Trousers are impractical for males? I don't think so!!! Reality check! Someone had the good sense to think up pants, and they are still most practical for men. Or maybe you've never had to work on rough ground, digging into your knees. It's bad in pants, worse with a skirt. And I don't know why women want to go about, with bear legs, when it's freezing out. Women look great in pants, even heavy women. But not all men look good in skirts. I know some of you don't want to hear this, but it's a fact. Some men look downright freakish in a skirt.
And my personal opinion is, pleated kilts look silly on a man. They are just too feminine. I have seen some kilts, made without the pleats, that look manly. Black and with studs, sort of a gothic style. I forget the manufacturer. Now just because this is a skirt site, doesn't mean men should stop wearing pants.

[crfriend]

Trousers are impractical for males? I don't think so!!! Reality check! Someone had the good sense to think up pants, and they are still most practical for men.

I believe you'll find that the poster was remarking at a meta-level that anatomically-speaking skirts make a lot more sense than trousers for men than they do for women.

Trousers make a lot of sense when it comes to nasty brutish work that guys are frequently called upon to do, and in that capacity wearing a skirt would be rather foolish. However, in most instances in the modern world, men are not intensely subjected to such circumstances, and it is in this context that skirts come into their own as a perfectly reasonable and rational article of clothing.

[...]Women look great in pants, even heavy women. But not all men look good in skirts. I know some of you don't want to hear this, but it's a fact. Some men look downright freakish in a skirt.

Some women look good in trousers, some don't; some guys look good in skirts, some don't. Ultimately it's down to the taste of the observer, and if your personal taste doesn't think guys can look respectable and dignified in skirts then I humbly submit the problem lies betwixt your ears.

Now just because this is a skirt site, doesn't mean men should stop wearing pants.

To the very best of my knowledge, nobody here has ever suggested abandoning trousers altogether; trousers, as I have mentioned, have their place -- for both sexes -- and so do skirts. Save, of course, for the narrow-minded who cannot fathom that a guy might not want an inseam "bothering his bits".

[JohnH]

I am a 50-50 pants/dress wearer in the winter time. Of course pants are practical for me. In the summertime I wear denim skirts instead of shorts. What I really hate though is that men are expected to wear pants and shorts one hundred percent of the time or be labelled a pervert by certain small minded individuals.

John

[skafloki]

Trousers may be convenient for women, and OK women can look good in figure hugging trousers, but trousers are uncomfortable and impractical for the male anatomy. Skirts for men are traditional and comfortable. It is only in western society since the industrial revolution that men wear trousers. The idea of trousers probably derived from the need to protect the inner thighs when riding a horse. Not many men ride horses nowadays.

OK, let me refine my answer a little. Trousers are just as convenient for men as women. Women look better in anything than men do. Pants were invented long before the industrial revolution. Vikings wore them, so did the germanic tribes, because they lived in a cold climate. Mongols wore them and american indians and eskimoes wore leggings and breechclout, simply because pants hadn't evolved within their sewing skills.
Pants are impractical for the male anatomy? Would you have me believe that a lot of damage is being done to men's testicles. because they are being crushed by pants? Have you ever wrestled? Do you know what function a jock strap serves? Do you wear underwear? Or do you let 'em wobble to and fro? Ancient kung fu masters actually practiced drawing their testicles up, to keep them out of harm's way.
Look, I'm just saying wear your skirt because you want to and like it. There is no need to come up with silly reasons to justify it. Otherwise, as someone else told me here, the problem is just between your ears.

[Since1982]

Does anyone here have a fitting answer for her?(Nothing insulting)

This is only mildly insulting, "She knows she's better than us and doesn't mind telling you so, the rules for her clothing choices does not apply to males, we are stuck in a box now because back in the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries WE (males) kept THEM in a box...tit for tat..