They call men who wear make-up "genderbenders". As to say: because they're wearing make-up, they're bending towards being feminine. But is it actually genderbending when men have been wearing make-up in different cultures for centuries?
During the age of French king Louis XIV, it was completely normal for rich people to wear a lot of make-up.
Apparently, the term "genderbender" started somewhere in the 1960's.
What about the New Romantics in the 1980's? Men were wearing a lot of make-up. I remember Shirley Kemp, wife of Spandau Ballet's bass player Martin Kemp saying: "he wore more mascara than I did".
Not to mention Culture Club's singer Boy George!
Women have been wearing trousers/pants since the invention of the bicycle.
Amalia Bloomer made the first pair of pants for women, so that they could ride a bicycle safely.
Women started wearing more "men clothes" in the 1920's, as well as cutting their hair short.
What about women who are wearing less or no make-up?
I hardly wear make-up in my daily life, nor skirts or dresses.
I'm mostly bare faced and wearing trousers.
Does that make me a genderbender?
Maybe we should take the gender labels off of clothes & make-up and let people wear what they want. First thing I've learned at Fashion & Clothing school was: "Fashion is not a trend, it's anything you wear that makes you feel good!
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