Men in Crop Tops

The first time I saw a man in a crop top was Johnny Depp in the film “Cry Baby.” Since then, I never thought twice about my attraction towards it. Luckily, I wasn’t alone in this feeling, with the crop top phenomenon blowing up Tiktok’s For You page. I grew comfortable in the statement that men in crop tops are hot. It wasn’t until this past summer that I realized this was not a universal thought.

My guy friends couldn’t believe it when I told them I liked a man in a shirt that stopped above his waist.

“What do you mean you like it when a guy wears crop tops??”

“But only if they have a six pack, right?”

“You don’t have to be gay to wear a crop top?”

Honestly, I wasn’t surprised by their aversion towards the idea of men in crop tops. Sad, but unsurprised. Toxic masculinity is a still at large in the male community, but I didn’t let that sway me. I was convinced the girls would have my back. So when I was with a group of them I decided to bring up my particular taste in men’s fashion. And things took an unexpected turn.

“That’s not really my thing.”

“Why is he in a crop top? Just for fun? Oh. Yaaa, no thanks.”

“I don’t want to see his belly hair!”

Now I was confused. I even showed them a picture of Johnny Depp lounging in his bed in his white football tee beautifully cropped at his belly button!! But they didn’t budge.

Was I actually alone in this way of thinking? Was I weird to like this fashion choice? I equated it to men in short shorts. An old trend, but one that the majority seemed to be enthusiastic about. So I did what any Gen Z (or as I like to identify, a zillienial) would do. I went to twitter and made a poll.

24 hours and 13 votes later we had a verdict. 61.5% voted that men in crop tops are hot. 38.5% voted I was the only one who liked it. Not the results I was hoping for, but still good results! I brought this new evidence to my guy friends to prove to them I wasn’t crazy and that they should embrace the crop top look. They were still unconvinced, claiming that even if the majority liked it, it didn’t matter because there was still a percentage of people that didn’t.

In conclusion, here is my formal request for new male friends.

Must be:

• unafraid of haters
• supportive of the crop top trend (and the short short trend but that’s a whole other topic)
• and unfazed by toxic masculinity

Email vcoscarelli17@georgefox.edu to become a part of the crop top fan club.