The article says that one situation men has to deal with is art and beauty. Being a respectable Men at that time consist on having a refine taste on the wardrobe, appearance that is going to be portrayed also in their behavior. The fact of involving men in fashion made them being judge because they appropriate the traditional female domain of fashion and appearances so they were considered effeminate. Therefore, being judge as effeminates for the society of that Era damaged the masculinity of many man, aspect that was important for them to maintain the title of the stereotyped rude man in patriarchy times.
This article is an example of how man had to fight to maintain an excellent reputation and manliness while following fashion appearances to be someone but not over exaggerate the trend so they won’t be called effeminates. This situation is portrayed in the importance of being Ernest with the fact that it was relevant for the character being recognize in the social high classes for the amount of money and properties they have, how they dressed and where they come from, to be called someone in society. For that reason, lies became the main critic the play made to the social construction of appearances society wants people to follow.