“Bring back manly men.” A new phrase floating around social media that sparked after Harry Styles came out with his most recent Vogue photoshoot, which included him wearing multiple pieces of “feminine” clothing. Candace Owens wrote on Twitter that Marxism being taught to children is an outright attack and then coined the phrase “bring manly men.” 

“To not wear [something] because it’s females’ clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes. And I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred,” Harry Styles told Variety. 

But what is a manly man? What does anyone think when someone says the words “manly man?” Some may think of a mechanic or a lumberjack. Others may think of a ripped guy with abs and biceps that could crush an egg. Or their ideals fall right in between. But why has that become the normal? When has that started and why?

“I’m a religious person, and I feel God made men and women differently for a reason, and men acting like women is making our generation/society messed up. As it started to become more mainstream to act this way, I feel it has brought chaos/cancel culture to social media/society,” Joey Carra (10) said. 

Beliefs about manly men have sprouted from religion, how different people are raised and just from society as a whole. Although everyone thinks of something different when we hear those words, should we think this way? What is correct? And who is to judge?

 “I think it’s unnecessary, men don’t have to be “manly” to be perceived as a male, and many influential men, such as Harry styles and Timothee Chalamet, have shown that men can also be feminine. Therefore, it is unnecessary to bring back manly men when men can express themselves however they want and still be men,” Giovanna Esquivel (12) said.

With all the hate coming to men wearing “feminine” clothes, there are fortunately a lot of celebrities and internet personalities backing them up. People like Lizzo, Ellen DeGeneres, Skai Jackson, the cable channel MTV and many others have publicly stood up and supported men wearing what they wished.

When talking about Harry Styles’ Vogue photoshoot George Janko told Logan Paul “it ain’t manly bro.” Paul said “Bro, why? What is ‘manly’ to you? What does it mean? Is manly being comfortable in your own skin and being comfortable with who you are, regardless of what you’re wearing?” 

Celebrities Harry Styles, Timothee Chalamet and Billy Porter have done photoshoots and gone to award shows in “feminine” clothing, like skirts, dresses and gowns. They all have gotten backlash for it, but the most recent and controversial one was Harry Styles,him being one of the biggest known names, almost becoming a household name. Actor Billy Porter has shown up to many award shows in gowns and even starred in Sesame Street with a gown, which has caused many adults to be outraged. 

“My goal is to be a walking piece of political art every time I show up. To challenge expectations. What is masculinity? What does that mean? Women show up every day in pants, but the minute a man wears a dress, the seas part,” Billy Porter said in response to backlash about him wearing a gown.

Celebrities dressing in “feminine” clothing isn’t the only way gender norms can be defeated. Many people do it every day and don’t even know it. Society started battling gender norms as soon as women started wearing pants. They can be challenged today by little boys playing with barbies and women knowing how to change a tire. Those instances are huge examples of stereotypes surrounded around genders not being able to cross the line between the gender norms.

“I definitely feel that gender norms still exist, since there are still toys, clothes and activities that are targeted to men or women instead of just being for everyone in general. Although there are people who are getting rid of gender norms, such as stay-at-home dads, I think the majority of people still stick to their ‘role’ in life, such as women being polite and dressing femininely,” Esquivel said.

What I hope to leave you with at the end of this is a step back at your beliefs. Rethink what you were programmed to think since the moment you were born. We all were. It’s time to think on your own. What is masculinity and why? Why can’t we step outside of our gender norms? That’s for you to decide.