Cross-dressers. Freaks. Transvestites. Most of us have heard these words. For most people, these words are bad, weird and an identity we almost never attribute to ourselves, even when most of us are guilty of this “crime.”
What defines unisex clothing? A majority consensus would say it’s clothing anyone can wear — clothing that is not for men or women exclusively. Some of these pieces of clothing include V-necks, collared shirts, pants and big, warm, ugly winter sweaters. These pieces of clothing are fantastic and anyone should be able to wear them without social repercussion.
However, it seems very clear that these unisex clothing options are almost exclusively embracing traditional male tailoring and styles. A man in a collared shirt and pants is seen as wearing men’s clothing. However, if a woman was in the same collared shirt and pants we would be more likely to label wardrobe as unisex.
Most women who would wear this pantsuit are considered strong, independent, career-oriented businesswomen. However, most of these values are attributed to her based on her clothing. Would most people consider her strong and independent if she were wearing a miniskirt? What about a floor-length dress? What does this say if we aren’t attributing positive attitudes toward traditional feminine clothing?
More evidence as to why unisex clothing is androcentric is that it contains almost no exclusively feminine clothing. Even most unisex shoe choices are flats or Chucks. Six-inch heels are rarely considered unisex. Skirts are in the same boat. If traditional masculine clothing can be considered unisex, why can’t traditional feminine clothing?
Men cannot wear skirts or embrace traditionally feminine expressions without social repercussion. In fact, a lot of men who do this find alternative words to describe these feminine expressions: Man bag instead of purse, “guy”liner instead of eyeliner, kilts instead of skirts, action figures instead of dolls. What does this say about these traditionally feminine expressions if we have to define new words for them? Weren’t they good enough to begin with?
Most of us own a pair of pants. By definition, most of us are cross-dressers embracing traditionally male styles of clothing. However, that is OK.
The only thing I’m saying is all clothing should be unisex, as I am frequently a target of such fundamentalist clothing hate. A red sequined ball gown is fabulous and I just want someone to wear it, even if ze has hairy legs and a beard.