Have you noticed that there are more and more males sporting a single painted fingernail? This relatively minor act could just seem like a fad, yet it has a deeper meaning. Let’s examine the meaning of guys painting one fingernail and why everyone should be aware of it.
This movement emerged from a very personal gathering. Elliot Costello, the man behind the Polished Man initiative, met a young girl named Thea while volunteering in Cambodia. This encounter opened his eyes to the reality that child abuse is a worldwide issue that impacts kids everywhere, even in America.
Engaging in pursuits that brought Thea joy brought Elliot joy. Painting nails happened to be one of those things. In a heartfelt exchange, Elliot painted one of Thea’s nails while she painted one of his. They were unaware of the significance of this seemingly insignificant act.
Elliot discovered that Thea had been abused sexually. Surprised by her pain, Elliot promised to keep that painted nail, her sadness, close at hand as a constant reminder. After having such a deep experience, Elliot launched the Polished Man project, encouraging men to polish one fingernail per week for a week in order to earn the hashtag #PolishedMan. This one painted nail represents the one in five young people who regrettably become victims of sexual assault.
Being a #PolishedMan includes confronting harmful language and conduct both locally and globally. Given that 96% of child abuse cases worldwide are committed by men, Elliot recognized the crucial role that men play in ending this form of violence.
Observing a brightly colored nail and knowing how many children are regrettably being harmed is insufficient. It is intended for the painted nail to spark conversation and increase people’s awareness of this disheartening reality. It is believed that by holding these talks, new ideas about how to end child abuse would emerge and that money will be raised for programs that provide services and education to child survivors.
As the Polished Man campaign gathers traction, we anticipate that more guys in your town will soon be seen proudly displaying a vibrantly colored nail. If you see someone looking great, compliment them on their look. If you’re a man, consider painting one of your nails in remembrance of all the defenseless children who are fighting for their safety and innocence. Just by gazing at your nail, they might feel happier and know they are not forgotten.
