“Manly” is a dangerous word, to men and women alike.

It encourages men to be unsmilingly tough, to base their self-esteem on muscles and fights and cars and sex, and it foists this toxic masculinity on themselves, and on women, and on society…where men can be sweet, protective, playful, not just gun-toting cowardly bullies.

Candace Owens, the Trumpian twitterhead, shames Harry Styles for playing dress-up (literally), deserves little attention for her genderhate. Let’s focus on Vogue, featuring a man, solo on the cover for the first time, a man idolized by women and men alike who’s unafraid of wearing dresses, exploring his sexuality, and who credits meditation with restoring groundedness to his mental health.

From Vogue (click link for more):

‘Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with… when you take away “There’s clothes for men and there’s clothes for women,” once you remove any barriers, obviously you open up the arena in which you can play.’

He added: I’ll go in shops sometimes, and I just find myself looking at the women’s clothes thinking they’re amazing.

‘It’s like anything – anytime you’re putting barriers up in your own life, you’re just limiting yourself. There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes.’

Harry told Vogue that meditation has helped his mental health.

‘It has changed my life, but it’s so subtle. It’s helped me just be more present. I feel like I’m able to enjoy the things that are happening right in front of me, even if it’s food or it’s coffee or it’s being with a friend—or a swim in a really cold pond!

‘Meditation just brings a stillness that has been really beneficial, I think, for my mental health.’