Fashion is meant to be about expressing yourself & feeling great – yet, unfortunately, some classic trends are actually quite sexist. Here are 15 fashion trends that keep outdated stereotypes alive. It’s all in good fun—but who knows? You’ll probably see your wardrobe in a whole new light!
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.
High Heels
High heels are supposed to symbolize that you’re fancy—but at what cost? Originally, both men & women wore them but now they’re just for women. As great as they might look, they’re a (literal) pain and encourage the idea that looking good for other people is more important than being comfortable. That’s not exactly great.
Corsets
Corsets promised that coveted hourglass figure at the expense of…well, breathing normally. While corsets may not be as popular today, they tend to come in & out of fashion so don’t be surprised if they appear again. Essentially, corsets tell women that they should change themselves to fit an impossible standard.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Makeup as a Necessity
There’s nothing inherently wrong with makeup but the moment it shifts from fun to “you must wear this to look presentable” is the issue. It’s an unwritten rule that women need makeup to be attractive – while guys get a free pass. That’s quite a double standard! Just think of it as plain old sexism—with a side of eyeshadow.
Nail Polish as a Feminine Requirement
Like makeup, nail polish is fun in theory although it’s not as enjoyable when it becomes a must-have for looking “put together.” It’s totally wrong that we teach women that to be feminine they need to have perfectly painted nails. It takes away their choice or freedom over their own looks.
Skirts and Dresses for Formal Events
Guys can turn up to fancy events in pants yet we often expect women to twirl in with skirts or dresses. This trend encourages the idea that femininity equals wearing certain types of clothes which is plain wrong. Such a trend makes women feel like they’re not really dressing up unless they show some leg. It’s as narrow-minded as it sounds.
Bikini Body Pressure
When summer comes around, suddenly everyone’s talking about having a “bikini body”—as if only certain shapes are worthy of sun & sand. It makes women think they need to look a certain way to enjoy the beach. Worse still, it tells them that only certain bodies deserve to be seen, and that’s plain mean.
Thigh Gap Trend
A few years ago, everyone was obsessed with having a gap between their thighs. The trend became a classic example of fashion dictating a specific body feature as the goal, making lots of women feel like they’re not good enough. Research has proven time & time again that having a thigh gap is unrealistic for many body types.
Pencil Skirts in the Workplace
While pencil skirts in the office may look nice, they encourage an underlying idea that women’s work clothes need to be figure-hugging to be professional. Really, it’s another way of saying that a woman’s value at work is tied to her appearance. How is that fair? They should be allowed to wear what they want.
Push-up Bras
Push-up bras give the girls a lift yet the message they send breaks people down instead. Like most trends, it supports the objectification of women, suggesting that changing your natural shape is important to be desirable. Push-up bras teach women to prioritize how they look over how they feel.
Tight Jeans
There’s no denying that tight jeans have their place in fashion—they do look good! But let’s not forget about how tight jeans pressure women into thinking they’re the only way to show off their figures. No matter how uncomfortable they might feel, these clothes tell women, “This is what looks good, so squeeze in.”
Long Hair as the Ideal
Honestly, it’s rather strange that we treat long hair as the height of femininity. This trend tells women that to be a true woman, they need to have those flowing locks. Short hair? That’s not girly enough. Unfortunately, it’s yet another way that society limits us on what it means to be feminine.
Body Shapers for the ‘Perfect’ Figure
If you’re a woman looking for a perfect body, you’re likely to put on some body shapers. But that’s wrong in so many ways. Why are we telling women that they should conform to a specific body standard? Surely we should be teaching them to be comfortable in their own skin instead of chasing after something else?
The Little Black Dress
Look into any fashion magazine and you’ll probably see writers claiming that a little black dress (or LBD) is a must-have. They tell women that they’re not fully dressed without it. However, we really should be considering other people’s personal tastes and allow them to express themselves without restrictions.
Floral Prints as ‘Feminine’
Floral prints get shoved in our faces as the perfect pattern for women’s clothing. Don’t get us wrong—flowers are great but when we assume that all women should naturally gravitate towards them, then there’s an issue. It boxes women into a stereotype that doesn’t leave much room for those who’d rather rock a geometric pattern—or heaven forbid, a solid color. Men who rock floral patterns are also equally ridiculed for being too feminine.
Perfume Ads Portraying Women as Objects of Desire
Most perfume ads present woman as their only role is to look mysteriously attractive. It’s all slow-motion hair flips & seductive stares, suggesting that the only reason to wear perfume is to become an object of desire. What happened to wanting to smell nice? We should stop encouraging this very narrow, very objectified version of attractiveness.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
Read More:
