As a fashion statement in today's context, men have started to wear earrings even if the conventional society are accustomed to seeing women as the ones who only wear those kinds of accessories. However, tracing back history, earrings were used, not just as mere ornaments or fashion statements, but as cultural representations of the primitive men.
In addition, records say that earrings emerged as one of the fashion accessories of men in as early as the 19th century. Actually, earrings were seen to be worn in the carved images of the soldiers from the different areas of the Persian Empire. These carved images are displayed on the remaining walls of the Palace. More so, in India, earrings are also worn by boys, as part of their religious practice.
In the context of earrings, being a popular fashion accessories for men, there are a string of events which led the to way toward the popularity of earrings among men as it is today.
Earrings became rampant as fashion accessories among women in the 1920s in the Western part of Europe while it was in the 1960s when ear piercing became popular among men. During that time, piercings were done by amateur ways like using safety pins in punk rock communities. Meanwhile, in the 1980s, then music sensation George Michael and some more others followed the trend. This signaled the emergence of a great popularity of earrings among men which was then followed by other show performers and even by a number of athletes.
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits,
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
At present, we see a lot of men who wear earrings on both ears while some wear more than one in each of the ear. Earrings, nowadays, has emerged as a fashion norm among men. Among the types of earings that we know today, two of the most popular types used by males are Hoop earrings and Stud earrings.
Hoop Earrings
This can be described as a semi-circular or circular in looks and design and could be mistaken to be a ring. Usually, hoop earrings are made up of metal tubing in which a thin wire is attached so that it could penetrate the ear. Some hoop earrings do not complete the "circle". But this kind can actually penetrate the ear in a post while using a particular attachment just what is used in stud earrings.
Stud Earrings
Let us not break with him,
For he will never follow anything
That other men begin.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
Stud earrings could be characterized on its feature of hanging on the ear or earlobe without having to see a point of connection at the front view. These studs are constructed at the end of a post which penetrates through the ear. Stud earrings are very popular among music performers. Some use diamond studs on it.
Indeed, the society has accepted this fashion statement of men. In these modern times, men have actually the freedom to wear earrings whenever they deem that they want to. However, some professions of course are discouraged to wear these accessories like when you are in the corporate world. But generally, earrings have also become an accepted accessories of men.