Why don't we see more men wearing kilts?

[jeanfor]

So wearing a kilt gives a man a strong sense of masculinity and freedom and many women are attracted to men in kilts. So why do we see such a small number of men wearing kilts? I have never seen a man in a kilt where I live in Milford, PA (USA). Are we men too chicken? And in NYC maybe be once.

[SadisticMedic]

I think it boils down to a confidence issue. By and large, most people don't like to stand out. Just my opinion.

Medic

[tundramanq]

There be sheep and there be goats to lead them....

[Nile]

Jean,

I think that there are a lot of men who own kilts and wear them occasionally. I would venture to say, that even most XMTS'ers only wear them occasionally (but, certainly as often as we can) but, very, very few (even in Scotland, it seems) wear them all the time. Therefor, the chance that you will see one, at any given time and any given place (in general), is very low.

That can change and it may, as we of XMTS, the ambassadors of kilt wearing, continue to show our legs in public. You, me and the Rabble can lead by 'doing'. Just look at how X Marks the Scott is growing; look at the numbers of guests that are constantly perusing this site and the number of new members joining each week.

I was working a booth for the Cambridge Sail and Power Squadron (a boating org. I belong to), in Cambridge, Maryland last year and a fellow came up to me and said that when he saw me in my kilt, he wished he had worn his too. And... That's not the only time I've heard that since I've started kilting out more often. Obviously, there is some trepidation with some (hey, I've been there too) as to when they could/should wear a kilt.

That said, I give Chuck a *** for what he said most succinctly "There be sheep and there be goats to lead them...."

Nile

[Shedlock2000]

Well, I'm heading out to a job interview today, and my resume states clearly ". z. . wears a kilt". I hope that the open minded Canadians are easy going; it is not a high flying job, so I should be ok.

I say this because, back in the day, when highland wear was regularly worn, there was little else available, and no stigma involved. These days there are 'expectations', and it is these expectations that repress. If you saw men in working life kilted, then it would be less unusual, more normative; and thus you'd see more men wearing kilts.

I'm trying to broaden perspective one day at a time!

[Father Bill]

Well... probably depends on the job and the employer. Good luck!

[RockyR]

So wearing a kilt gives a man a strong sense of masculinity and freedom and many women are attracted to men in kilts. So why do we see such a small number of men wearing kilts? I have never seen a man in a kilt where I live in Milford, PA (USA). Are we men too chicken? And in NYC maybe be once.

You must have never seen me in Quakertown or Pottstown in my kilt then.

You need to travel about 45 minutes West to Spring City to see more kilts. I see guys in kilts every day!

[Andrew Breecher]

I think it also has to do with why someone would own a kilt in the first place. Obviously there are more casual options, but I think that most people who own a kilt got it for a special occasion - for instance their wedding. They got the whole kit, and paid a lot of money for it. So now it's associated with being fancy, and they wouldn't want to ruin such an investment! Unfortunately that investment sits in the cupboard not being worn. It isn't that they wouldn't want to wear it - obviously they wore it on their wedding day (or whenever), but it's the fanciest outfit they own, and couldn't imagine just wearing it to go to the grocery store. Maybe seeing a few more kilted men out there will change their minds.

[KenB]

Well, I have a few friends that attend Scottish Country Dancing. They are happy to wear the kilt for their get-together but have a difficulty wearing the kilt in public regularly. There is no amount of convincing that I can do to persuade them to wear the kilt outside set, scheduled small, limited community situations. So, they and their partners all say, " Don't you look nice.." But they never join me in my frequent "kilting".

Mind you, they also do not have decently fitting kilts. Usually the ultra casual cheaper kilts.

To each his own.

[jeanfor]

In fact I am 130 miles from you North