This image could be considered highly controversial at the time. Here Mapplethorpe is dressed in a very feminine fur coat. He has on very visible makeup and seems to be pushing gender boundaries. In 1980 obviously people were not as understanding of people who chose to express their gender or personality freely. Now we are lucky to live in a time where thinks like makeup and dresses are no longer restricted to a certain gender. I think this piece would actually be greatly supported today. There is so much more support presently for freedom of expression.