Double Standards

I don't seem to understand the double standards in gender.  Why are certain things okay for women, but not for men and certain things okay for men and not for women. 

Okay for women not men: Why is okay for women to wear men's clothes, but not okay for men to wear women's clothes?  If women can wear pants then men should be able to wear skirts.  If women have the male equivalent of underwear, why can't men have the woman's equivalent of underwear?  Women can wear just about any type of footwear and men are limited to flat shoes (either dress, sneakers, boots, boring sandals).  Heels were originally worn by men, but now we can't wear them.  Also how come the lower back tattoo is mainly only for women, why can't men get them too?  Why is okay for women to shave their legs, but not men.  Why is makeup okay for women but not men.

Okay for men not women: Why is okay for men to go topless, but not women?  It's okay for woman to show their breasts as long as their nipple is covered.  Why?  Why aren't men's nipples considered sexual but women's are?  Why are certain jobs okay for men, but not okay for women?  Women are just as strong and just as smart, if not more than a man, but they are frowned upon.

Society seems really messed up when it comes to gender equality.  Especially when it comes to clothing.  I don't think it's fair.  Many fashions that women wear today used to be men's, but somewhere in the past someone decided it was only to be a woman that could wear those items.  Men used to wear skirts, heels, make-up, carry purses, etc.  When did this change?? Why did this change?? It seemed easy to switch from being men's fashion to women's, but nearly impossible to change back.  WTF.  Why?

I want to be able to wear heeled shoes, skirts, make-up and carry a purse without getting made fun of, looked at weird or ridiculed.  I find heeled shoes to be easier to drive in and fashionable.  Skirts are more freeing, especially since men have a body part hanging between their legs.  Make-up would help cover up blemishes and nail polish would allow us to express ourselves more.  And purses are very practical.  It hurts having a wallet in my back pocket.  We carry much more stuff these days and a purse would be so handy.  Carrying wallets, business cards, phones, keys, check books, sunglasses, iPods, etc.

Why are men so afraid to wear these fashions?  Why are they scared of what people think?  When did it only become okay for men to be manly men and chauvinistic.  Ugh.