Is it gender bending or queer appropriation?
Ansel Elgort, Harry Styles and Jacob Elrodi are just a few of the internet’s boyfriends.
Their every movement and fashion moment is indicative of a trend. Recently, the trend is the pleasurable frustration of painting nails.
Some queer people don’t think positively of, for instance, Elgort at the Golden Globes with glitter makeup and white nailpolish on.
Their criticism is that queer people are oppressed when they present themselves in a way that does not conform to gender stereotypes, whereas cis men get celebrated when they do.
While it is true that white straight cis men are praised and credited when doing literally anything, it is a stretch to call painting their nails “queer appropriation” when such elements of feminity are rooted in the oppression of women — created for women to present themselves as feminine and thus as attractive as possible.
Additionally, it is counterproductive to label fashion trends to gender performance; it reinforces the binary.
However, there is an important point regarding this criticism: we should always recognise where trends come from, especially when it started in marginalised groups. It helps everyone become more respectful.
Cover photo credits: Bella Cavalcanti
Bella is our sub-editor and writer, she doesn't use social media but you can send her good thoughts!