OPINION By Alexa D'Amato

  After being spotted with painted nails at the Red Sox Winter Weekend and during Spring Training, first baseman Triston Casas continued to make statements.

  Painted nails aren’t unusual in baseball; many catchers paint their nails bright colors so pitchers can see the signs easily. However, many teams use PitchCom, an electronic method of trading signs between pitchers and catchers to prevent sign stealing, and are slowly phasing out the traditional signs and glamorous nails.

  As a first baseman, Casas doesn’t have to paint his nails to ensure there are no communication mishaps. He does it because he wants to. Painted nails are a traditionally feminine way of expression, and in Major League Baseball, femininity and women are not often promoted. Historically, women were welcomed in the sport, dating back to World War II, when men were drafted to fight and women were recruited to play baseball. However, in the modern era, women have not experienced that same hospitality.

  While there are no women playing Major League Baseball, there are significantly fewer female reporters than males. Many of those women are forced to hide their femininity in order to be taken seriously in their male-dominated workforce. Women were not allowed inside locker rooms until 1978, after a lawsuit decided not letting reporters in locker rooms on the basis of gender was discrimination.

  After female reporters were finally allowed in locker rooms, they were faced with taunts and harassment while they were working. Naturally, as with many male-dominated jobs, many women decided to try and blend and began straying away from traditional femininity. Society deems masculinity a sign of strength and femininity a sign of weakness. Not wanting to be picked on, many women began dressing masculine or androgynous, ditching heels, noticeable makeup, brightly painted nails, and much more.

  Femininity, especially in regards to sports, started disappearing fast. Male athletes wanted to push an image of themselves of strength, but jewelry and the color pink don’t strike fear into the hearts of opponents. As society progressed, many celebrities, athletes, and regular people became more comfortable showing their femininity to the world. 

  However, those social norms would not change if popular culture didn’t change first. Male athletes, who typically present masculine, show the world how they are in touch with their femininity. Society began changing to show how femininity can be a positive thing, and not seen as a weakness.

  With athletes like Casas painting their nails because they want to, not to make a statement, they create more room for people to be feminine. They can slowly change the views of people so femininity in places we expect masculinity can be accepted. By making space for femininity, women, and anyone who wants to present themselves in a feminine way, can feel secure and live without fear of harassment.

  With time, the shock value of seeing a man presenting feminine, more people can present themselves however they choose, without fear they will be mocked. Casas could have listened to the hate that was spread on social media when he was spotted with painted black nails at Winter Weekend, and hidden a part of himself from the world that he wanted to share. Instead, he chose to paint his nails red and sparkly, showing that he won’t listen to negativity.

  In a modern era, where concepts of femininity and masculinity have gradually become less associated with male and female, more women are involved in sports and sports journalism than ever. They are play-by-play commentators, color commentators, pre and post-game analysts, and work behind the scenes next to their male colleagues.

  When women feel comfortable in their workplace, they can do their best work, which puts them in the same position to receive the same promotions that their male colleagues do. In order to maintain a safe and inclusive workplace, women who are equally qualified as their male counterparts should receive the same promotions. 

  Seeing male athletes embrace femininity forces society to change their views and allow feminine people to feel secure. Concepts of femininity and masculinity are constantly changing, and acceptance is the easiest way to be kind.