Modern fashion does not stand still, just like stereotypes. We are finally getting rid of them little by little. In the post-Soviet space, there has long been an opinion that an earring in a man’s ear is a sign of homosexuality. Few people wanted to communicate with such people and mocked them in every possible way. Today everything has changed, we have become loyal to a person’s orientation and appearance. This gave free rein, and men began to pierce their ears; this decoration was no longer considered exclusively for women.
In general, women have borrowed many things from the strong part of humanity. Men began to wear shoes with heels - later they appeared in women's wardrobes; men began to wear underwear - women soon followed suit and came up with panties; men pierced their ears as a sign of courage and other significant events - women liked the earrings and began to decorate their ears with them.
How men wear earrings
Earrings have never been a purely feminine decoration, quite the contrary. Delving into history, we will see that earrings began to be worn not because of beauty.They served as a talisman, a symbol of courage or protest. Some peoples pierced a boy's ear in infancy.
The tradition of piercing men's ears and hanging earrings still has special symbolism today. Although it can be disputed, because no one can really explain why wearing an earring in the right ear is considered a sign of non-traditional sexual orientation.
REFERENCE! Earrings already existed in Asia 7 thousand years ago.
History of this tradition
At the dawn of humanity, primitive people made jewelry, as we understand it. They wove bracelets from wicker and leather to protect themselves from evil forces, wore teeth or skulls of killed animals around their necks as a necklace or pendant as a sign of strength, and when they learned to handle metal, they made earrings. But then these things were not worn only for decoration. They were worn for rituals, protection and to demonstrate status.
REFERENCE! In Ancient Rus', earrings could be used to determine a man’s social status. The poor wore jewelry made of copper and wood, the wealthy wore silver.
This is what an earring in a man’s ear meant at different times and in different nations:
- men of high social status in Ancient Egypt wore an earring in their ear, and this showed their power;
- sailors who survived after traveling through the Cape of Good Hope had their earlobe pierced. It was something like a baptism of fire, because a storm often rages in this cape, carrying thousands of ships under water;
- according to the second version, sailors pierced their ears after crossing the equator;
- sea pirates made a new puncture in the ear after each captured ship. One could understand his strength and ferocity by looking at the pirate’s ears - the more earrings there were, the more ships he captured;
- in ancient Rome, beggar men had their ears pierced;
- in the 13th century the church prohibited any piercing or modification of the body. Then thieves and opponents of the church pierced their ears as a sign of protest and disobedience;
- The gypsies pierced the ear of the second newborn child after the death of the firstborn. The piercing process was considered a ritual, and the earring was assigned the functions of a talisman. It was believed that she would protect the child from death;
- when the Slavs went to war, they pierced their ears;
- the Cossacks pierced the left ear of the only son in the family, and if the earring is in the right, it means he is the last child in the family;
- Caesar's centurions pierced their nipples and wore earrings as a sign of strength and courage
REFERENCE! The only son was not stressed and protected. He was not given hard work and was not sent to war. Such a guy should continue his father’s line, and if he died, the line would end with him.
Modern fashion and concepts
The rooted opinion is that a man of traditional sexual orientation wears an earring in his left ear, a gay man wears an earring in his right. In some sources you can find a theory that earrings in both ears mean the guy is bisexual.
In reality, these statements are subjective. Current trends allow you to pierce one or both ears and look stylish at the same time. Earrings are worn by world celebrities - Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Justin Timberlake, Cristiano Ronaldo, Justin Bieber, David Beckham and many others.
But according to established tradition, gays actually wear an earring in their right ear and thereby declare their orientation. If this is not your goal, pierce your left ear or both. It's stylish, fashionable and without too much hint. The main thing is a minimalist design, small rings or studs without large stones. The best material for men's ear jewelry is silver metal: silver, platinum, white gold, medical steel.This, unlike gold, is discreet and neutral.