The F-word discussion

If you woke up one day and there was an unwritten social code that said blacks should wear "only" skirts and gowns while the whites are to wear "only" trousers and clothes meant for the whites.
What would you think?
RACISM.
Right?
So why does the world impose the clothes we should wear im order to tell men ad women apart?
SEXISM.
What is even worse is, people don't see the subtle discrimination that exists. Instead it is approved as the norm.

Here in the States, at least there is relative freedom.
But in some parts of the world, if I should wear trousers, I can be stoned, sent out of a church.
I would be preached at mercilessly and may even recieve a reprimand from women there.

If a man wears a skirt, he is gay.
If a woman dresses like a man, then she is gay.
Then, what if an asexual/heterosexual man wears a skirt or an asexual/ heterosexual woman does the same?
What should they be called?
Queer!?

It is pointless, discriminatory and bigoted to assign clothes to either sexes and to sterotypically classify them.
Your thoughts?

I think men can look wonderful in long straight skirts. But they are often not as fortunate as women as the shape of men's bodies can look ungainly in delicate or frilly clothing, which of course is traditionally seen as for women. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Marilyn Monroe dress just wouldn't look good.

So, sometimes it's a question of style. But I'm up for blurring the genders as much as possible, clothing included.

Women are more fortunate. We look gorgeous in big boots, work trousers, suits, clothing that is traditionally seen as for men.

Even the freedom is inherently misogynist, though.

A woman can dress "like a man" (especially if she's attractive) and no one blinks.

But if a man dresses "like a woman" it's "bad". Just another thing that shows the embedded sexism and misogyny in our society: Men are "better" so it's understandable that women would act or dress like men; women are "worse", so if you are not a woman but act or dress like one, there's something wrong with you.

It's the same thing with insults...the worst things you can call a man are anything related to a woman.

It's hard to see these things unless you're looking for them.

It's even harder to fight them. So I start by not perpetuating them, and then trying to call people out when they do. (Which is extremely unpopular.)

Jim wrote: "So I start by not perpetuating them, and then trying to call people out when they do. (Which is extremely unpopular.)"

Any man who does this is an utter hero. It takes a coward to be a misogynist and a hero to challenge it. Ironic.

Jim wrote: "Even the freedom is inherently misogynist, though.

A woman can dress "like a man" (especially if she's attractive) and no one blinks.

But if a man dresses "like a woman" it's "bad". Just anothe..."

I think it's because since men are historically in charge, they create societal structures to protect their culture of potent masculinity and their power. That's why boys who are not aggressive, prefer "feminine" clothing, or like traditionally "female" activities like sewing or fashion, are mocked or cast out.

Wearing female clothes for me (as a woman) is mostly practicality. They fit a lot better on my body and are (usually) more comfortable. Many of my male friends complain about male clothing like suits, which, I've been informed, are oppressively hot and a pain to wash. What I don't like about female clothing is that many of it is too tight or too short for my taste. I prefer looser clothing for ease of movement. In that regard, I'm somewhere between the exaggerated tightness of girls clothing and the exaggerated bagginess of boys clothing. I wish that there were less gender norms attached to clothing so I could find nice shorts somewhere in the middle between girls "short shorts" and capri-length boys basketball shorts.

Sometimes I think the fashion industry hates everybody.