Wearing your favourite shirt can make you feel great even if you’re having a bad day while taking your favourite pair of pants out clubbing means you’re going to have a great time. In other words, clothes can make us feel cool, and no matter what you choose to wear, you’ll feel good if you look good. However, there’s been much debate about the choice of clothes some people make, and the question of gender neutrality is getting a ton of attention, from people fashion industry professionals to everyday guys and girls who are fans of clothes that might be different from what their friends are wearing. Here’s why gender neutrality is so important and how it affects us all.
What’s the difference between “men’s” and “women’s” clothes?
We all know how people usually dress, no matter where they live and how old they are – men wear pants, shirts and sneakers, and women wear dresses, blouses and shoes. And that’s just how things are and how they’ve been for centuries, and not that many people bother thinking any other way. But, is it that wrong to even consider alternative possibilities?
The fact is that lots of brands are insisting on gender-neutral clothing and introducing them into their offer as we speak. All this started some time ago when one of the biggest and most influential brands, H&M, started a gender-neutral denim line, dismissing all previous stereotypes and limitations. Other brands joined in, and we can now see more and more clothes that are suitable for both men and women, and it seems that nobody minds that at all. The question isn’t why that’s the case, though, but how that affects the image people have of themselves and others.
How do you become gender-neutral?
The thing is that a huge number of people today are gender-neutral in all aspects of their lives – from the books they read and the movies they watch to the way the dress and how they speak. It seems that they act this way not because they want to appear unique or make a statement, but because they just feel like it, and that’s quite all right.
Pinpointing the roots of this behaviour isn’t easy since it has so much to do with the culture we’re raised in and the way we perceive the world around us, but the point is that people are just tired of social norms dictating their lives. They don’t want to be told how to act and what to do – they just want to be free, enjoy life and act natural. That’s why they discard pre-established roles and positions and spend their days not thinking about how to fit in a certain role. Instead, they create roles for themselves.
What does fashion have to do with it?
Having all the freedom in the world to do whatever you want can seem a bit scary at first, but it’s one of the most satisfying feelings you could ever have. Once you decide you don’t want to be held back by someone else’s wrong opinions and outdated beliefs, you’re going to feel much better and realize there’s nothing stopping you from purchasing and wearing literally whatever you want to wear.
One of the best ways to embrace your gender neutrality is by wearing unisex T-shirts, hoodies, trousers and headwear. These things often come in different sizes, shapes and colours, and everyone can find a model they like the most. You can also explore the world of footwear as well, and express your beliefs by wearing cool Adidas sneakers that are perfect for both men and women.
What about the impression you make?
Unfortunately, not enough people are familiar with gender-neutral clothes, and that’s why they don’t understand the point and the importance of this fashion statement. Moreover, they undermine the people who support it too, whether they want it or not. Ultimately, this all leads to a giant misunderstanding between the people who are for gender-neutrality and those who are against it.
A study published in 2013 suggests that gender roles still rely on fashion more strongly than people want to admit, but it seems that the situation has changed for the better since then. Now, more people accept gender-neutral clothing, and those who endorse it don’t really mind what others think. This is particularly vital for the LGBT community that faces challenges every single day, and therefore sometimes chooses this type of clothing as a way to have their voices heard.
In the end, the truth is that gender-neutral clothing is still clothing, and there’s nothing extraordinary about it. It’s still the hoodies, the trousers, the dresses and the sneakers people have been wearing forever, but are now simply exploring other clothing items as well – and nobody has the right to tell them they’re making a mistake by doing that.
