How Harry Styles is Breaking Gender Stereotypes

By: Elise Stefankiewicz

Harry Styles is a singer and songwriter with many hit songs and popular music videos. But besides being known solely for his music, Harry Styles is also known for his unique style and fashion. Being the icon that he is, it has recently been announced that he will be on the cover of December’s Vogue magazine. Being on the cover of Vogue is a huge deal, but it gets better. Harry Styles happens to be the first man on the cover alone in 127 years. You can obviously tell that he broke some sort of stereotype for who appears on the cover of this magazine.

The cover of each published Vogue magazine features its fashion and beauty, which is what the brand stands for. The magazine is known to feature popular people (mostly women) in our media, wearing unique clothing. Harry Styles’ is wearing a dress and when asked to explain what the images meant, he said “There's so much joy to be had in playing with clothes. I’ve never thought too much about what it means- it just becomes this extended part of creating something.” His message basically is that fashion is simply a fun way of being able to express yourself, and that clothing should not be gender specific. What Harry Styles has done is groundbreaking and it is amazing that he is breaking gender stereotypes and showing that fashion can be gender neutral. 

Candance Owens, who is a conservative author, commentator, and political activist, did not feel the same way as me when looking at Harry Styles in a dress. She took to social media to explain that she fears our society will not survive without “strong men.” But what actually makes a man, manly or strong? What he wears? His job? Or is manly being comfortable in your own skin regardless of what people think about you?

Men and women can dress however they want and people are showing their support to what Harry Styles stands for all over Twitter, by tweeting pictures of themselves breaking gender stereotypes. Our society has convinced us that men should not wear dresses, but I say why not? Life is short, be whatever you want to be, and wear whatever you want to wear. Never be afraid to be yourself. 

Sources: 

https://www.vogue.com/article/harry-styles-cover-december-2020