Comments on The Nylon Gene: The Politics of Mantyhose

I would have to partially disagree with Brad on th...

2010-08-08T10:00:13.024-04:00

I would have to partially disagree with Brad on the acceptance of men wearing pantyhose. That may be true in Europe and Russia where I went but not so in the USA. Yes, acceptance has been growing but there are regional and continental differences. I was in Sweden, France, Poland, Germany, and Russia earlier this year. The growing acceptance of tights there compared to the USA has a lot to do with general style acceptance. For example, if I show a photo of my dad dressed a little baggy, my relatives and friends overseas would tolerate it but encourage him to slim down. In sharp contrast, show a picture of a guy dressed in skin tight jeans or leggings to a typical American and you'll still get stupid laughs with ridiculous comments such as "he looks gay". Unsaid is a noticeable pattern that these same intolerants have a different agenda. They want to enjoy the rest of their lives looking at us ladies dressed skin tight (and boots will be no exception) with the same old fear that guys dressing thin and skin tight will be a "threat" to their enjoyment. The truth is guys with baggy pants pushed a lot of us women away and later into feeling less encouraged to stay slender. While I have reduced from fat to slim over the years, the growing fatness and obesity in women in the US has increased. That isn't to say that fat people don't exist in Europe. They do but they are less frequent. Most men and women overseas are far less obese and the tolerance among men and women dressing skin tight exists unlike the US. See, there few get infatuated looking at someone who is tightly dressed especially on the legs but at the same time few express their intolerance about it. I have to admit that for the first few days, I felt tickled to see guys dressed so elegantly and yet relieved that I was not getting the typical annoying infatuation stares from guys unlike here in the states as if I were some sitcom actress. I would also like to add that several of the patterned tights for us ladies would actually blend in rather well with what guys wear overseas.

By the way, when I look at the Activskin site catalog, all I see are mainly black, suntan, and nude tights but no other colors. I think that the following colors will actually get more men to accept wearing tights: army colors, navy blue, and royal blue. For patterned tights, a baseball pattern blend and a football style pattern blend for sports kids will do.

P.S.: I heard that even in Tokyo tights for men is a growing trend.

Hi Steve, Thanks. Yes I knew it was an older arti...

2010-08-07T08:50:18.472-04:00

Hi Steve,
Thanks. Yes I knew it was an older article and glad you reposted it here. I am curious to know who the other companies are that are getting into "our" market for men's hosiery. Doing a search I suppose would be the easiest way to find them and will certainly do that. But yes I am quite happy with Activskin. Thanks again for all you have done. I hope someone will pick it up as you have done.

Thanks your comments, Brad. I too thought this p...

2010-08-06T04:01:15.065-04:00

Thanks your comments, Brad. I too thought this post would generate a bit more conversation. But then again, it is a repost of an older article. Glad to hear you're happy with ActivSkin, too. There are several more companies throwing their lot in with the men's hosiery market these days, which appears to be yet further confirmation that this IS a growing trend.

I guess I am surprised that no one has commented t...

2010-08-03T18:46:48.682-04:00

I guess I am surprised that no one has commented to this posting. I believe we are going to get closer to an acceptance of men wearing pantyhose (and I will just call it that - mantyhose to me just doesn't work) very soon. But it takes more men wearing and not hiding them.

Because I do wear them as well as knee highs, especially this time of year, I have noticed very, very few women wearing them. Why is that? I've heard the reasoning behind not wearing them, but just don't buy it.

And by the way, I found Activskins through a search about 5 months ago, and couldn't have been happier to find a company right here in the states where I could buy legwear for men. After a number of purchases, I wear nothing but their products. By the way, this is not an "official" endorsement, but hey, why not?

Anyway, I would think that more people would have an open mind to what is worn by both sexes. It bothers me just a little when I read what some people supposedly think when they either hear or see that a guy is wearing something that might (just possibly) be considered feminine.

Yes there may just be a need for wearing something with a little more support, both guys and gals, but don't let that be your sole reason. I don't believe it has to be. Since I started wearing a product designed for men, my legs aren't tired and sore any longer, and they feel 10 times better, but I am enjoying the feel of them as well.

To the guys who wear now, good for you! To the others who have thought about it, go for it! And to the men and women who think it's just too feminine for a guy to wear nylons, open your mind and your eyes. There's nothing wrong with it.