Thoughts on boys with painted nails

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t bother me a bit. Our neighbor’s 14yo son came over to swim today and had bright red nails. He’s otherwise quite masculine presenting and I’m pretty sure my dd has a crush on him and thought it was cool his nails are painted. He also painted his little brother’s toenails and my younger ds wanted to paint his toes this weekend.

Kids enjoy color, regardless of gender.

[Anonymous]

My oldest DS came home from camp once with painted nails. Apparently the female counselors were practicing on all willing kids.

. He's in his 20's now. If he wants painted nails , he can ask his wife LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Basic biology - the males of a species generally have brighter coloring.

Historically, men have often sported elaborate and extravagant fashions. In ancient Rome, women were once prohibited from wearing more than one color or having too much gold (although silk was forbidden for men so that they would stay tough).
https://www.britannica.com/topic/dress-clothing/Government-regulation-of-dress

For most of history, men have been the ones wearing high heels.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/why-do-we-wear-high-heeled-shoes/9135936

Even the whole pink/blue color assignment is fairly recent. When it started, about a century ago, pink as the “stronger” color was assigned to boys and “dainty” blue was assumed to be the right color for girls.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-did-girls-start-wearing-pink-1370097/

While I think men were smart to get out of the high heels, I have sometimes felt sorry for how constrained they are by modern fashions. In formal attire, they get to choose between a black tux, or maybe if they’re daring, a white jacket. For business attire, they can wear a black, brown, grey, or navy suit, but they can choose the color of the necktie to strangle themselves with. Even as kids, sparkly, glittery, and/or frilly things are mainly reserved for girls. Girls are free to wear blue and will almost certainly have lots of blue denim in their wardrobe, but if a boy wears pink, they’re liable to get the side-eye.

My girls had lots of fun when they were younger experimenting with nail art, and painting their nails in general. I don’t see any reason why boys shouldn’t have the chance to paint their nails, too.

Growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the trend was to knock down gender stereotypes. While I rolled my eyes at my middle school English teacher, whose sentences for grammar examples all ran along the lines of “John bakes a cake.” and “Jane fixes the car.”, I think that feminists of that era were right that boys and girls can both make choices outside of the stereotype. While there may be some things (including fashions), that may more generally appeal to boys than girls (or vice versa), there is such wide variation both on preferences at a personal level at any specific time, and at a cultural level depending on time and place, that it just doesn’t make sense to get worked up about restricting something as superficial as fingernail polish to a specific gender.

At some point, it became acceptable for men to NOT peacock about. It was to the detriment of us all. Men's fashion is boring and they can get away with wearing the most awful things and look like total crap. Men need to up their game. I'm all for anything that makes men take a look at their appearance.

[Anonymous]

I saw a dad (3 little girls) with painted toe nails at the pool the other day. I thought it was so sweet. Also saw a young boy with painted nails who proudly told me his sister did them for him.

I have 3 boys who are still all under 5 and haven’t shown interest and wouldn’t have the patience to let them dry but I dont think it’s a big deal.

[Anonymous]

I would look for kid-friendly formulas but would totally paint my son's nails if he asked.

[Anonymous]

I would be fine with it but I don’t think my DH would be comfortable.

His family is not from the states and in his home country, and in his community here in the states, it would be judged negatively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Basic biology - the males of a species generally have brighter coloring.

Historically, men have often sported elaborate and extravagant fashions. In ancient Rome, women were once prohibited from wearing more than one color or having too much gold (although silk was forbidden for men so that they would stay tough).
https://www.britannica.com/topic/dress-clothing/Government-regulation-of-dress

For most of history, men have been the ones wearing high heels.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-13/why-do-we-wear-high-heeled-shoes/9135936

Even the whole pink/blue color assignment is fairly recent. When it started, about a century ago, pink as the “stronger” color was assigned to boys and “dainty” blue was assumed to be the right color for girls.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-did-girls-start-wearing-pink-1370097/

While I think men were smart to get out of the high heels, I have sometimes felt sorry for how constrained they are by modern fashions. In formal attire, they get to choose between a black tux, or maybe if they’re daring, a white jacket. For business attire, they can wear a black, brown, grey, or navy suit, but they can choose the color of the necktie to strangle themselves with. Even as kids, sparkly, glittery, and/or frilly things are mainly reserved for girls. Girls are free to wear blue and will almost certainly have lots of blue denim in their wardrobe, but if a boy wears pink, they’re liable to get the side-eye.

My girls had lots of fun when they were younger experimenting with nail art, and painting their nails in general. I don’t see any reason why boys shouldn’t have the chance to paint their nails, too.

Growing up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the trend was to knock down gender stereotypes. While I rolled my eyes at my middle school English teacher, whose sentences for grammar examples all ran along the lines of “John bakes a cake.” and “Jane fixes the car.”, I think that feminists of that era were right that boys and girls can both make choices outside of the stereotype. While there may be some things (including fashions), that may more generally appeal to boys than girls (or vice versa), there is such wide variation both on preferences at a personal level at any specific time, and at a cultural level depending on time and place, that it just doesn’t make sense to get worked up about restricting something as superficial as fingernail polish to a specific gender.

At some point, it became acceptable for men to NOT peacock about. It was to the detriment of us all. Men's fashion is boring and they can get away with wearing the most awful things and look like total crap. Men need to up their game. I'm all for anything that makes men take a look at their appearance.

Lol I love this comment.

[Anonymous]

He's only 5. Totally fine, doesn't mean anything. If he were 7 or 9 it might mean something. But still I would think it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He's only 5. Totally fine, doesn't mean anything. If he were 7 or 9 it might mean something. But still I would think it's fine.

What do I think it means?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do you.

Personally, I don’t like it.

And I think it’s partly because I know that the kid has asked for it and the parents don’t have the boundaries to say no. Therefore his nails are painted. The actual nail painting has no effect on me it just tells me who rules the roost.

So if the child were a girl, she would not be ruling the roost?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do you.

Personally, I don’t like it.

And I think it’s partly because I know that the kid has asked for it and the parents don’t have the boundaries to say no. Therefore his nails are painted. The actual nail painting has no effect on me it just tells me who rules the roost.

Boundaries?? Who the F cares if the kid paints his nails? Would you let a girl do it? Or does she need boundaries for this terrible activity - nail painting.

No, I would not.

Loosen up. Really.

Ditto. It’s called different parenting styles. Try and be open minded. Like I said, it has no effect on me but I don’t like it. She asked for my thoughts so there you have it.

Nice try to clean up your mess. You said parents that allow it have no boundaries. Which is different than saying we all have our own parenting styles. Oh and let’s be open minded.

Oh, yeah, I stand by that. Can’t say “no” to the kid but that’s my opinion of the parents and I also said painting has no effect of me. It’s like when I see kids wearing their Halloween costumes in the spring time. It’s cute, but I can also tell those are the parents who can’t say no to the kids. She asked for my opinion and there you have it. I’m not sure why you’re so upset about it. Whatever, who cares! Have a nice day.

So most of us don’t think wearing Halloween costumes in the spring is a big deal. It’s called pretend play and it’s developmentally normal. It’s not about not being able to say no.

Very odd way of looking at things.

+1

If I think it’s fine if my son paints his nails or wears his Halloween costume in the spring, how are either of those things evidence that I can’t say no? I have no reason to say no to it!

On the other hand, PP’s comment is evidence that
a) she cares more about the nail painting than she admits
b) enjoys judging other parents
c) is sorely lacking in self awareness if she thinks her attitude is a live-and-let-live approach to different parenting styles.

[Anonymous]

I would think you were trying to support his wish to be transgender.

[Anonymous]

I don’t even allow my 8 year old girl to paint her nails. I don’t like the idea of having children act too grown up or adult too soon. So I wouldn’t allow my son either.

[Anonymous]

Wow—the nail polish=feminine=bad is really something.

[Anonymous]

Seldom notice anymore. Preschool boys have been coming into daycare with nail polish for years now.