I Kilt myself!

It’s interesting the reaction that you get doing some things. My family has always celebrated its heritage in one way or another. In general we are old-family Yankee.When growing up my mother’s relatives always called the porch a ‘piazza’ and we always took our pasta seriously in deference to my Mom’s Italian roots. My grandmother spoke fluent French-Canadian. And my father gave special attention to his experiences among the Native American friends on his father’s side as well as his Scottish roots.


A couple years ago I put together a kilt (not my own Clan Gunn tartan, but Black Watch tartan) and have worn it around the house and in the yard. Once or twice I’ve worn it out on an errand, but it’s not that great a sewing job, so I don’t do it very much. Generally I’ve gotten some good comments on it. I find that there is somewhat of a controversy about kilts though, especially where Christians are concerned. There is this verse in the Bible (actually in more than one place) that talks about men not wearing women’s clothes, and vice-versa. Deuteronomy 22:5 says, "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this".



The question becomes, especially in today’s society, what is appropriate clothing for men and what is inappropriate? The first thing I point out is that Kilts are first and foremost men’s clothing. The specific style and construction have always been worn by men in Scottish culture…in all Celtic cultures, really. If a woman was to wear a Kilt, she would be wearing a male style of clothing. The cut and construction are tailored to men; that has never stopped women, but they are generally given more leeway than men in such things.


Secondly, there are very few real ‘unisex’ garments. Most are cut to accommodate a woman’s anatomy OR a man’s anatomy. Therefore a man would be very uncomfortable in a woman’s pantsuit, while a woman would have extra material and an uncomfortable fit in a man’s pair of pants…either would not be flattered by the fit. This is also why it becomes very hard to pin down a particular garment class as being either male or female…are pants in general male or female? Is a shirt in general male or female? Garments this gender specific in our culture might be limited to such things as underwear, intimate garments or panty hose. In another culture it might be a little more clear cut.



Thirdly, scripturally I think the injunction is pretty clear. Don’t wear things that culturally indicate that you are gender-bending.


It has helped my case to note that in the past few years there has been a resurgence in prominent kilt-wearers such as Sir Sean Connery, TV shows like 'The Highlander' and films such as Braveheart starring Mel Gibson, as historically inaccurate as that film is. Anyone care to tell Sean Connery that he's a sissy? I'd like to be a fly on the wall when you do!



When all is said and done, if the Kilt is worn in context there is nothing wrong with it from a scriptural standpoint. But, in the words of Peter, "be prepared to give a ready defense..." and in keeping with scripture, avoid knowingly offending our weaker brothers (and sisters).