Who doesn't "get it"in your community?

[Alan H]

I live in the San Frnacisco Bay Area,and I work at a big University on the Peninsula where people are awfully well-educated. In general I never run into folks who are confused by the kilt, here in my immediate work environment. However, I don't have to go far to get blank looks, and sometimes some laughter and challenging stares from young men. Invariably, they are Hispanic.

Interestingly, a lot of the Pacific Islanders look a couple of times, but there are no challenges, probably because an unbifurcated garment for men is completely typical in many Pacific Island cultures. There's a Tongan congregation that uses my church's Chapel for services on Sunday and many of the men wear the traditional lava to services.

Nope.... around here it's the young, Hispanic men that are the issue. I think it's a combination of machismo and the fact that many of these guys don't have a clue what a kilt is. They've never seen one, or even heard of one before. A kilt is totally outside their frame of reference. That doesn't mean they're Bad People, right? No way, not a chance, but it does mean that I have some tense moments,now and then, and return stares for stares around town sometimes. As of yet, I've never been directly insulted or challenged. Then again, I'm 6' 2" and 250 pounds and that might make a difference....or maybe it doesn't make a difference at all, I really don't know.

We've talked about teenage girls being obnoxious, usually in the mall with thier girlfriends around, but those girls essentially always dry up and evaporate when you turn around and actually speak to them. Are there other groups of people in your area that are a "problem"for your kilt-wearing? How do you deal with it?

[Colin]

Just a warning before this gets going. If it turns racial, sexist, or political in anyway it's gone.

[flyv65]

The closest I've come to getting "hazed" for kilt wearing is from little kids: they point and giggle, and ask why I'm wearing a skirt. A quick word or two with a smile to explain and most of them understand. Granted, only some think it's cool, but they're too young to risk non-conformity at these ages (maybe 5 year old to 8 or 9). I've never been challenged or accosted by anyone else, although I've been approached by more than my fair share of gals curious about the kilt, or telling me about their heritage, or (once or twice), I *think* attracted to me. Tracy says it happens more often than I notice, but she thinks that it's cute I don't catch on.

Bryan...gotta love a kilt...

[cessna152towser]

With the enlargement of the European Community a lot of Poles, Lithuanians, Slavs etc. are moving into Scotland to work. They are taking jobs which have been short of applicants in the past, dentists, bus drivers, fish packers etc. so they are very welcome in our economy. They tend to stare when they see a kilt, but I'm sure they'll soon get used to the idea.

[Shay]

The only people that give my husband a hard time seem to be older folks or drunk idiots. (Not that they'e comparable groups, of course!)

I think his father, who is German, has the most trouble wrapping his head around the idea, but then, he thinks Mr Shay is kooky for buying a pair of real lederhosen, too, so at least he's equal-opportunity about it.

[Caradoc]

However, I don't have to go far to get blank looks, and sometimes some laughter and challenging stares from young men. Invariably, they are Hispanic.

In the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona, I'm betting the concentration of Hispanics is a bit higher than San Francisco.

I've never gotten any sort of derogatory comments from the Hispanic folks - invariably, the comments have come from people who I'd have to call "rednecks" rather than what I'd like to call them (or the thread would be deleted).

The one comment I did overhear was the group of Hispanic kids planning the beer run at the convenience store - I overheard, "Hey, what's with the dude in the dress?" and the reply, "Shut up, man! Didn't you see 'Braveheart?' They KILL people for that!"

I couldn't rightly call that derogatory.

[Ruanaidh]

In the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona, I'm betting the concentration of Hispanics is a bit higher than San Francisco.

I've never had a problem here in El Paso either. Its nice to know that this city is more culturally diverse than San Fran. The comment I heard yesterday was "¡Qué cool, dude!"

[bubba]

Around here I've gotten no worse than an occasional giggle from the Hispanic folk, and that's rare now. They've gotten used to me. The ones that seem to have the hardest time are the Hmong. The older ones catalog kilts as ceremonial clothing and can't quite get used to kilts as everyday clothing, but they are just a bit confused by it, not negative. The younger ones have become pretty conformist and can't understand not trying to "fit in" like everyone else. Again, not particularly negative, just a bit confused. The most negative reactions seem to come from the "yuppie" types between 20 and 30 and white male. The corporate mindset of kissing your superiors butt and dissing those below on the corporate ladder.

[Shay]

The ones that seem to have the hardest time are the Hmong. The older ones catalog kilts as ceremonial clothing and can't quite get used to kilts as everyday clothing, but they are just a bit confused by it, not negative.

That's an interesting perspective in it!

It made me want to search it out... turns out Hmong kilts are normal everyday clothes in the 'old country,' just not here.

[way2fractious]

Hmong clothing -

Each piece of the exquisite pandau has a name. My favorite is called a xe, pronounced "shay.” It’s like a very thin apron, only much prettier. Xe’s are mostly for women.