Becoming Visible

What happens when a man wears a skirt in public? This research presents an experiment in which the author, a male student, wore a skirt throughout the day and went into public spaces, including the classroom, on campus, and nearby places, to challenge gender perceptions.The author uses personal observation and personal reflections documented during the day, interviews with peers who witnessed the act and interacted with him, and theory to understand how gender is not fixed but regulated by society. He also criticizes how society punishes those who deviate from traditional gender roles, especially expectations about how men and women are supposed to behave.The findings show different reactions: some people supported the author, others stayed silent, and some expressed discomfort or mockery. These responses reflect deeper cultural beliefs about gender and control.This study questions how these norms are used to limit one's freedom of expression and how they may turn into violence and dehumanization, especially when men express "feminine" traits or behaviors. The author wears the skirt to defy these norms and calls for empathy and human dignity to replace them. Fils is a writer, dancer, opera singer, and survivor who uses storytelling as a form of resistance and healing.From challenging gender norms through performance art to reclaiming voice through written memoir, Fils stands at the edge of what society calls taboo. His works are not about conforming, they are about remembering.Trained in Ayurveda and Business, and deeply engaged in human rights work, Fils blends body, mind, and spirit in everything he creates. Whether it's a research experiment in public perception or a dance rooted in Butoh, his creations push the limits of identity and ask urgent questions about freedom, silence, and truth.