Do I Need To Polish My Nails To Feel Feminine

Painting Nails
Evan Tridone /THE REVIEW
Senior Reporter Evan Tridone gives his passionate rationale for painting his nails every bit "little class of activism."

BY EVAN TRIDONE
Senior Reporter

Aye, I paint my nails. When I started painting my nails a twelvemonth ago, I never expected all the things I was going to have to bargain with for being a human who likes color on his fingernails.

It all started last March, when my friend Mark sat down in the deli for lunch. I noticed nail smoothen on his fingernails, and he told me that his little sister was practicing painting nails on him the night before and he decided to just get out it on. Personally, I thought it looked crawly, and that afternoon my girlfriend painted my nails blue.

It started off innocently, with a uncomplicated admiration for how cool it looked. Information technology didn't take long for things to change, nevertheless. As soon as I came into school the next 24-hour interval, I was called a "girl" and I was asked by many why I would ever do such a thing to myself, I was called homophobic slurs even though I am heterosexual. Quickly, painting my nails became a point of activism for me.

In brusk, I was hurt. I cried to my girlfriend, request her why people would exist so combative over something so small, something that affected them in admittedly no way whatever. It soon became clear to both of the states that it was due to the attitudes that gild tin hold toward men doing things that women do. Playing field hockey, dancing in a ballet, performing in theatre. In my Catholic loftier school, men were mocked and ridiculed for doing any of these things outside of the gendered norm. Annihilation typically feminine that a human being did resulted in them being chosen all sorts of slurs and names.

Men do non typically pigment their nails, so in part, I understood why people around me would be confused by my actions. Information technology was the attitude, notwithstanding, that many took toward a man doing something that women do that was hurtful to me. A multitude of people criticized me for participating in an action traditionally seen as feminine.

At present I paint my nails partly because I believe that men should exist able to do things normally associated with femininity and not exist criticized for them. Men are seen as weaker for partaking in these "feminine" activities, which as well exposes a lot about how people perceive the things that women do.

At many points during my freshman year here at the university, people accept assumed my sexuality because of my nails. For some reason, people still think that men who do feminine things and men who are gay are exclusively in the same circle. In reality, it'southward more of a venn diagram, with people in all parts of the picture.

Painting my nails was a way to immerse myself in the world outside of the gender binary, redefining and bending roles. Although women take made progress in defying gender roles, in that location are still so many that linger in the subconscious of people of all ages. "Men shouldn't paint their nails, that'due south for girls." "Women tin't play video games, just guys are good at them." "Women who have toned muscles aren't cute."

Gender roles scoff and demean 18-carat passions of 18-carat people who mean no harm. Interests are what make united states of america happy, and gender should never forestall someone from the best of our unalienable rights: the pursuit of happiness.

My trivial form of activism has had some change for the better. My parents who were critical of my nails at beginning take come up effectually on the issue, and I'one thousand more than grateful for them. My friends who criticized me are at present more supportive and understanding.

Overall, painting my fingernails has been a life-changing event for me. It has shown me that prejudice nevertheless exists in the globe, and that misogyny affects anybody on a daily basis. I'one thousand proud to say that I paint my nails, and still love doing it to this day.