Times are certainly changing for society in general. Very likely you will not find the changes felt more strongly than among the younger generation of men striving to realize their identities.
For decades, the epitome of masculinity was restraint and simplicity. Back then it was the man’s job to earn the money, and the woman’s job to spend it. For the most part men were not the ones to go shopping unless it was absolutely necessary and appropriate grooming for men was made up of taking a shower, combing his hair, brushing his teeth, and possibly shaving. Fitness was a gray area for men at that time where going to the gymnasium wasn’t as prominent then. When going out men were expected to be presentable and clean, however they were not expected to put in a great deal of time or thought into their appearances.
Fast forward to the present, young men face a similar confusing assortment of choices as well as responsibilities just like their female counterparts. The television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was in reality coined a lot earlier, in a 1994 British article.
Now we have the latest coined term; Metrosexual. Very frequently Metrosexuals are described as heterosexual men who embrace their homosexual inclinations. Whether this reflects the actual state of the term, the stereotype of the gay man involves immaculate taste in everything from shoes and clothes to literature and art. Hence, a straight man that displays similar tastes is said to be embracing his gay side.
Metrosexual Evolution
In fact, Metrosexual is not a new concept at all. Many generations ago, a large subset of male society was impeccably dressed and to a greater extent a connoisseur of exquisite culture. This subset was made up of the wealthy, whose station in life called for rigorous adherence to the elaborate etiquette of the time. It was only the rich who had both the additional income as well as the time to devote themselves to the finer things in life.
The idea of the male as self-sacrificing benefactor is in reality comparatively new, at least among the middle and upper classes of society. Only with the drop in large estates that were full of servants, and the ensuing lack of free time, did the rules concerning etiquette, proper dress, and cultural pursuits start to relax. Society changed in a dramatic way during those years as well, with the wartime work ethic of World War II contributing to the counterculture revolution of the 1960s era, then followed by the “power suit” culture of the 1980s era.
The computer revolution of the last two decades has led to the ever increasing technologization of the modern world. As technological discoveries lead to ever increasing time-saving applications, add that to the continued entrance of women into the work place, men once again find themselves with both disposable income as well as time.
What’s Past is Prologue for Metrosexuals
Men are starting to rediscover the simplistic pleasures experienced by their ancestors, from the fact that the a persons face does feel more comfortable after exfoliation, to the enjoyment of experiencing for the first time a truly high-quality wine.
The best way to explain what a Metrosexual would be is a modern resurrection of a much older trend – the trend back toward spending more money as well as time on the little pleasures that make life more comfortable.
When self-denial is done simply for its own sake it ends up being silly at best, and indulgence to the right degree has been important to humans throughout history. If you have the means, permit yourself the pleasure of so-called metrosexual pursuits. Your body and your mind will be happy you did.
