A few weeks ago I painted my nails a beautiful dark sparkly blue colour. And it drove me nuts. Every time I caught sight of my nails, it irritated me. My hands weren't my own.
Right now it is Movember- a month where men grow mustaches to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. I don't have the genetics to grow a mustache, so I'm improvising: I'm wearing a fake mustache every day this month to support our company team. And when I catch my reflection in the mirror, it doesn't faze me.
I know it can be argued (and has been) that nail polish is not just for girls, and facial hair is not just for men. But these things are still predominantly perceived as "gender indicators" to society at large: you know, the things that trumpet to the world around you what your gender is.
And my dysphoria rears it's head when I see nail polish, but not a mustache on myself.
