Fashion today is more fluid than ever, with many traditional gender norms being redefined or discarded altogether. Yet, there’s one subtle detail that continues to distinguish men’s and women’s clothing: the side on which the buttons are sewn.
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| Buttoned shirt. Credit / Shutterstock |
Next time you button up a shirt, take a moment to check where the buttons are placed. Now compare it to a shirt designed for the opposite gender. Chances are, you’ll notice a difference.
Women’s shirts typically have buttons on the left, while men’s are on the right.
This small design quirk might seem trivial, but its roots run deep into history – and possibly into centuries of gender inequality.
Historical Theories: Why the Button Placement Differs
1. For the Lady’s Maid
One of the most accepted explanations goes back to when upper-class women didn’t dress themselves. Wealthy ladies had maids to assist them, and because most people are right-handed, having buttons on the left made it easier for a maid facing her mistress to fasten her clothing.
“When buttons were invented in the 13th century, they were a luxury item,” explains Melanie M. Moore, founder of a womenswear brand, in an interview with Today. “Wealthy women didn’t button themselves up – their lady’s maids did. Placing buttons on the left made it more convenient for the maid, who stood opposite them.”
In contrast, men typically dressed themselves, so buttons were placed on the right to accommodate right-handed individuals.
2. Designed for Combat
Another theory looks to men’s historical roles in battle. Soldiers often needed to quickly access weapons like swords or pistols, usually with their dominant (right) hand. Having buttons on the right side made it easier to unfasten clothing quickly while keeping the right hand free.
“Many aspects of men’s fashion have military origins,” says fashion historian and Harvard doctoral candidate Chloe Chapin. “So this design might stem from practical considerations in warfare.”
Women’s fashion, not designed with battle in mind, kept buttons on the left.
3. A Masculine Fashion Twist
By the late 19th century, women’s fashion began incorporating traditionally masculine elements. However, dressing exactly like a man could get you into legal trouble in many places.
Chapin suggests that having buttons on the opposite side helped distinguish women’s attire while still allowing for masculine-inspired designs. It offered a way to nod to male fashion without breaking the rules.
Gender Norms and Outdated Assumptions
British sexologist Havelock Ellis touched on the topic in 1894, claiming the button placement reflected a belief that women were physically inferior. In his book Man and Woman, he wrote that women lacked the dexterity and precision men had, hence their need for dressing assistance.
It’s an outdated and sexist notion, but one that arguably shaped a fashion tradition still present today.
The “Button Differential” in Modern Times
The Atlantic dubbed this subtle difference the “button differential,” calling it “a relic of an old tradition that we have ported, rather unthinkingly, into the contemporary world.”
And many people are just now noticing.
“I was today years old when I learned that women’s shirts have buttons on the left side!” one Reddit user exclaimed. Another added, “I just found out about this. Wtf!!!!”
Even zippers, some note, tend to follow the same gendered design.
Fashion Slowly Evolves
While a few brands are starting to challenge this convention, the majority still stick with the traditional left-for-women, right-for-men button layout.
The big question: is it time to let go of this arbitrary difference?
As one social media user put it, “Ah yes, the great gender divide – because apparently, centuries ago, women needed help getting dressed while men were expected to fend for themselves. Fast forward to today, and we’re still buttoning up outdated traditions.”
What do you think about this long-standing fashion quirk?Had you noticed the difference before? Share your thoughts – and this story – with friends to keep the conversation going.
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