“A few months ago, my husband — who has always embodied ‘traditional masculinity’ — began experimenting with makeup. It started off modestly, with just a hint of concealer, but soon progressed into elaborate routines featuring contouring, foundation, and eyeliner for every occasion.

Initially, I supported him. I believed in his right to express himself, and I didn’t want to stifle his newfound confidence. But things changed when the whispers and laughter started. Friends, family, and even coworkers began questioning me instead of him. ‘How could she let him do this?’ ‘Isn’t she embarrassed?’ It felt as though his choices were a reflection of me, and despite my best efforts to support him, the ridicule from others became unbearable.”

“The turning point came one night when I snapped. After a particularly tough day when I had been the subject of too many jokes, I came home, saw his makeup on the bathroom counter, and something inside me broke. I threw it all away. Every single product. Concealer, foundation, brushes — gone.

When he came home and saw what I had done, I braced myself for anger, even a confrontation. But instead, an agonizing silence filled the room. He simply stared at me, and in that moment, I understood the damage I had inflicted — not just on his makeup, but on his sense of self.

Now, I’m left grappling with the question of whether I made the right choice. I didn’t discard his makeup to hurt him; I acted out of desperation, hoping it might put an end to the ridicule and protect us both from the relentless judgment of others. Instead, I may have shattered something far more crucial: his trust in me and his ability to embrace his true self.”