Men Are Being Spotted With One Painted Fingernail: Here’s What It Really Means [Video]

Men around the world are now wearing one painted fingernail. However, the growing trend reportedly has nothing to do with any type of fashion statement. The creative, artistic display actually has a very significant meaning behind it. According to Opposing Views, men with one painted fingernail on one hand of five nails are representing the “one in five children who will be a victim of sexual abuse during their lives.”

It has been reported that the one painted fingernail concept, created by a man named Elliot Costello, is part of the #PolishedMan campaign. It also started when Costello traveled to Cambodia. He reportedly came up with the symbolic gesture while traveling through the Southeast Asian nation with a non-profit organization known as Hagar International.

https://twitter.com/matthewpardon/status/651243181422436352

The group visited a number of notably deprived areas in Cambodia, hoping to make an impact on those in need. During the group’s travels, Costello came in contact with a 10-year-old girl named Thea. During his visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, he realized just how many people are affected by sexual assault. By the time he left, the smallest village he visited had ultimately made a profound impact on his life, reports APlus.

While spending time with Thea, Costello learned a number of things about her. In an effort to bond with her, Costello decided to partake in a number of activities that would appeal to a little girl, hence their nail painting session. As Costello painted Thea’s nails, she shared a number of details about her life. She also revealed how she’d been sexually assaulted, as she painted one of his fingernails. She revealed she’d been sexually abused by a pedophile for two years while residing at a safe house where she was taken to after her father’s passing.

#PolishedMan: Here’s why you might see men going round with one finger nail painted http://t.co/Eqmumnv6HN pic.twitter.com/ONZ3fvLuSj

— Metro (@MetroUK) October 6, 2015

The experience is the inspiration behind Costello’s #PolishedMan campaign and the one painted fingernail concept. Costello is challenging all men to paint one fingernail for a week to pay homage to the one out of five children who have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of men. Although the one painted fingernail trend originated in Australia, men in America have also gravitated to the concept and are now wearing one painted fingernail.

According to the Daily Mail, the campaign’s ambassadors and Polished Man project participants include AFL star Chris Judd and Logie award winner Gyton Grantley. During an interview with the publication, Grantley shared the reason why he chose to participate, revealing that he’d also dealt with similar situations in his life.

“I’m already sporting a nice kind of pink with blue sparkles on top,” Grantley said. “I’ve been wearing it everyday and that’s the great thing about the campaign – you don’t often see nail polish on a man and it definitely prompts the question of why you’re wearing it from others and that results in the exclamation of why and really brings the campaign to life.”

“I’ve done charity work in Thailand for World Vision and I’ve also worked in the slums of Nairobi in Kenya for Oasis Africa, so I’ve done work for children over there and seen quite in-depth some of the experiences they’ve been through,” Grantley said. “More importantly it’s in our own backyard and basically one in 29 children, or one kid in every class is being abused and we might not be aware of it or know it. What’s important is to raise more awareness and encourage more conversations amongst ourselves, to bring the subject more light.”

According to Mad World News, this year’s campaign was launched on Oct. 1. Costello is hoping that with time, the campaign will open doors for more helpful resources that can aid sexual assault survivors with the healing process.

What do you think about the #PolishedMan campaign? Would you show support and wear one painted fingernail? Share your thoughts.

[Image via YouTube Screen Capture]