“Gender Neutral,” a new set of values beyond old-fashioned ideas, is a story that is drawing attention these days. Gender Neutral is a value that recognizes the individual itself, regardless of gender. As coercion and stereotypes of gender roles have been the subject of constant debate in society, people’s perceptions are gradually changing over time.
The most visible area of the change is the fashion sector. Walking around the streets as you can see, women not only wear skirts and men not only wear pants. The “genderless fashion”, which further accentuates individual freedom and individuality, is a craze. Examples are airline uniforms or middle and high school students’ uniforms. In the meantime, uniforms used to clearly different outfits depending on gender. By removing skirt costumes and allowing women to wear pants and uniforms, they can wear comfortable clothes by guaranteeing freedom of activity and increasing their sense of wear.
In fact, when I saw a flight attendant wearing pants at the airport, I thought, “It looks much more comfortable and neat than “weird and awkward.” Also, I wore a school uniform all my school days.
However, when I saw girls wearing comfortable school clothes, I thought it would be much better to move around and stay warm in the winter. Boys also had to wear long pants in the summer. But seeing them wear light, breathable shorts, they looked much more satisfied than before.
‘Why do students have to wear uniforms that are cold in winter and hot in summer when they come to school just to study?’ I really thought that a lot. But society changed faster than I thought. I was both surprised and envious.
This change in fashion made me feel like the stereotypes of men and women were disappearing. And I felt that the standards of beauty on individuals were also disappearing. Men are masculine, women are able to look at each other with unbiased eyes, not at the aesthetic standards created by society, by removing clothes that emphasize femininity.
In fact, many people may not be able to take their eyes off the changes that men wear skirts and women dress up like men. However, as more and more people acknowledge that gender neutral is a given, I am sure that a society that shows off one’s free personality through fashion and eliminates discrimination will come closer soon.
Jeeun Yoo
K-UNIV Reporter
