A couple weeks ago I decided to paint my fingernails. I didn’t really have a reason for doing so; I just wanted to do it. So told my housemate and she brought down her giant box of nail polish. I chose a fall appropriate, at least in my opinion, and beautiful shade of navy blue. I never really thought I would be sending any type of message.
This is not the first time I’ve painted my nails. I’ve done it for Halloween a few times. Including last year, when my nails for painted sparkly gold for my group costume as The Muses from the Disney movie "Hercules." Anyway, I let the color chip away and within a week or so, there was no evidence that I had ever painted my nails. I don’t know whether it's been my deep foray in my WGS major, (Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies), a need for more color in my life, or a whim in which I wanted to, but now my nails are now navy blue.
I am not the only man who is painting their nails. If you think back to our grungier middle school days, when we were hormonally charged and the only people who understood us was the pop-punk bands that we listened to, maybe some guys painted their nails then. This was an act of rebellion, throwing black nail polish on to show you were against the status quo. In reality, men have been wearing nail polish for decades. They are normally seen on rock stars and other musicians. We see this as an act of creativity or rebellion.
Concurrently, there is a movement of men painting a single fingernail to raise awareness and show support for #PolishedMan a drive to end violence against children. Supporters are encouraged to set up fundraising pages and teams in their communities. The money raised will go to charitable groups that care for children who are victims of violence. The movement is #PolishedMan, which connotes that men be the ones to paint their nail, as most violence perpuated against children in committed by men. The way the media is shaping this, however is that if you see a tough-looking guy with one fingernail painted here’s why… The movement is a great cause and men everywhere can and should be supporting it. However, why is so shocking seeing a man who has any amount of fingernail polish on?
When I painted mine, both hands mind you, everyone, both men and women, were giving me the weirdest looks. I was questioned by both sexes, young and old, classmates, to my own parents, on why would do such a thing. The idea of girls only wearing nail polish is a social construct, meaning that society has assigned certain habits, behaviors and even clothing to a certain gender. This is so ingrained that we don't question that nail polish is for girls, and if guys want to wear it, it should be black and they are probably a rock star.
It is this idea and how we put everything into categories which drives the reactions people had to me and how the #PolishedMan movement is framed. People do not associate nail polish with men, let alone big, strong men, who are "manly," do "manly" things. So when they see a man wearing nail polish, a signal in their brain comes down, a societal signal, which tells them that it is wrong, and to question it, or make assumptions about that guy. This reaction isn’t necessarily the person’s fault, it’s what society and the world we live in has dictated. However, their reaction, something voluntary, for the most part, is their own doing. So if they give me a weird look, or make such a big deal of men painting one fingernail, then it is their decision. I never knew I’d be sending a message to the world by painting my fingernails, but seeing that I have, I have raised a middle, adequately painted finger to gender norms and social constructs.
