Women in kilts

[Christo13]

There's been a sentiment expressed that women wearing the kilt is taking yet another thing away from men. That doesn't seem very manly to say that.

When my wife, Cynthia, wears her kilt, it looks like a skirt on her. She is taking nothing away from me. Even if she wore a sporran, hose, flashes, etc., it would take nothing from me, nor any man.

If we are going to say it is truly a man's garment, and only a man's garment, then if I stand next to a women also in a kilt, I will be the one standing tall and proud. The woman beside me will take nothing away from me; she will blur no lines or water down perceptions of the garment.

I understand the history of the kilt and I can even understand standing on the tradition that it only be worn by men. But if I stand on old tradition, a woman's place is in the home to serve me, and I not only like an independent woman, I like an independent woman who can wear a kilt or a kilted skirt to a kilt night with me.

When Cynthia and I stand side by side in our kilts, people know I'm wearing a kilt. They see Cynthia's kilt at her knees and see it as a skirt. If she were wearing a kilted skirt, they would see it as a woman's garment.

I'm not going to wear a kilted skirt, but if a guy wanted to wear one, more power to them! If some people want to blur the lines of what is masculine and feminine, so be it--people have that right.

I know when I'm in the kilt that I'm a man. I know that when Cynthia is in the kilt that she's a woman. Those who blur the lines, whether by choice or by simply being who they've been since birth, have that right, too.

History changes. Fortunately, so many things that were once "tradition" are no longer viewed as the norm. Students of history will know that the kilt was a male garment. Most will still see it as a male garment.

When a woman like Cynthia or Lady Chrystal wears a kilt, it's obvious they are women. Sure, they are wearing a "male garment," but I'd hardly say Cynthia takes anything from me and that Lady Chrystal takes anything from Robert.

If anything, having a sweetie who wears a kilt or kilted skirt enhances the experience.

Some can argue that since I was born in America that I'm not entitled to the kilt, since it was histroically worn in Scotland. Some would say that while they respect my right to honor my Scottish great grandmother and Danish great grandfather, that it's a garment I shouldn't wear.

All I wanted to do was offer a perspective that was different from what is popularly held...at least in this society at this moment in time.

I admire the stance you've taken. Obviously, I see things differently, but I can understand your arguments.

There are so many levels to the "Who can wear the kilt?" argument, though. It comes down to this for me: people have free will. If a woman wants to wear the kilt, she has the right. If you want to defend the history of the garment, you have that right. And if others want to throw in their opinion, they have that right.

I enjoy threads like this because they bring out different views.

I'm not afraid of women taking aways the kilt from men, and I'm not afraid of discussing different points of view--especially with people who appreciate the kilt in different ways.

Christopher