Gender Swap - Men are In

We've been talking about reappropriation of images, and it got me thinking about the current trend of defying the norm and swapping genders. It's nothing new to send a model down the runway with looking like a lanky 12-year-old boy, but fashion designers are pushing the limits. One of my favorite all-American designers, Ralph Lauren (I know I always make reference to him), is reminding us that males have the best style. Forget the female muse, men are in this season.


RALPH LAUREN SPRING 2010

Is Ralph Lauren reinforcing male patriarchy? I'm not so sure. Whereas women normally dominate aesthetic images of beauty (without sexuality), there is something visually pleasing about a well-polished man. We give them names like "pretty-boy" or "metro-sexual" to show the femininity of being fashion conscious. Even eHow has an article about it:

How to Be a Metrosexual | eHow.com


It seems like the Queer Eye just might be getting to us. Gay culture is becoming that much more acceptable. Pretty soon, Prop 8 will be just another hurdle crossed for civil rights legislation. Meanwhile we'll keep the men in their skinny jeans and women in their short haircuts on our gaydar, because that's the best way to tell (as if it even matters).

http://www.thedailycougar.com/out-and-about-gay-community-more-than-what-s-on-television-1.1906115



http://www.thedailycougar.com/out-and-about-gay-community-more-than-what-s-on-television-1.1906115