| He's
in touch with his feminine side
By Celestyn Hollingshead
April 4, 2006 | His highlights look so good you wonder
who is stylist is. His cuticles are in better shape
than yours. You would trust his taste in fashion above
your best girl friend. He likes girls so he's not gay--he
is a metrosexual.
According to Urban Dictionary Web site, www.urbandictionary.com,
a metrosexual is "a straight guy who's so cool,
smart, attractive, stylish, and cultured, that everyone
thinks he's gay. But he's so secure in his masculinity
that he doesn‚t care," submitted by Cary Granite
from New York. It is also defined as "self-assured
in themselves enough to express their feelings with
out fear of feeling like they are homosexual in the
process. They are often mistaken for homosexuals in
denial," Logan submitted to the site.
"Metrosexuals are almost borderline gay,"
Marissa Slater, a junior majoring in nutrition, said.
"The way they move, dress and talk is almost feminine
but not."
Utah, a little behind on culture, has picked up the
trends. At USU the metrosexual trends are a little less
extreme due to the rural area. Less metrosexuals are
found, but they are starting to pop up here and there.
Donald Tarinelli, a junior in business, said metrosexuals
are a little strange. His manly appearance is what sets
him apart from them. "I wear guy clothing, not
butt-tight girl pants,"said Tarinelli, adding it
only takes him 25 minutes to get ready for the day.
The term metrosexual was picked up by society from
Mark Simpson's article in The Independent in 1994. In
a 2003 article on Simpon's Web
site he writes, "Truth is, I was not being
entirely serious when I first wrote about metrosexuality
back in 1994, shortly after the publication of my book
about contemporary masculine identity, Male Impersonators:
Men Performing Masculinity. That's to say, when
I wrote about how male metrosexuality was coming out
of the closet and taking over the world, I was being
slightly satirical about the effect of consumerism and
media proliferation, particularly glossy men's magazines,
on traditional masculinity."
The media did not catch on to the satire. According
to the article Rise
of the Metrosexual by Peter Gotting cosmetics by
Ella Blache say in some areas, forty percent of their
salon customers are men. Young men are paying closer
attention to razors, moisturizers and hair dye. The
trend for men to take better care of themselves is growing
Hollywood's poster boy for metrosexualism is David
Beckham, according to Gotting's article. The British
soccer star has been seen wearing sarongs and nail polish
and poses for gay magazines.
"Beckham, the man whom British academics have
credited with changing male behavior, has been deemed
the ultimate metrosexual,"said Gotting.
Danny Robinson, a junior majoring in business marketing,
said what sets the regular heterosexuals apart from
the metrosexuals are the metrosexuals‚ attention to
detail. "They are picky like women," he said.
The attention to detail is what women like in metrosexuals.
Slater said she would like to be friends with metrosexuals
as they have better taste and are fun to shop with;
as for dating one probably not, too intimidating.
"I like to wear my baggy sweats sometimes,"
she said. "I need to know they are OK with that."
Hillaree Mendenhall, a junior majoring in early childhood
education, said she would date a metrosexual who was
not too extreme.
"Too extreme means he cares more about his looks
than I care about mine," she said.
Being a metrosexual is hard work and costly. Loews
Hotel chains have caught on to this costly trend and
are offering 'Metro Man' packages at $525. According
to David Weiss‚ article The
Metrosexual Male, the package includes "a 24-hour
transformation, featuring a two-hour tasting meal, which
includes a cooking, wine and drink-mixing lesson with
the hotel's Chef, and an etiquette lesson by the hotel
concierge." Also included is a grooming session
featuring a manicure or pedicure, haircut and shave,
and a consultation with a personal shopper.
Metrosexual behavior, like attention to appearance
and details, is becoming more accepted into society
as the people learn that a man in touch with his feminine
side is not necessarily gay. "Everything has become
more acceptable in society," said Robinson. He
added he personally has no problem with metrosexuals
but based on his lack of feminine traits and their lack
of masculine traits, they would not mesh well as friends.
On the other hand, a girl's point of view differs.
"They are not any less macho, just because they
are in tune with their emotional side,"said Slater.
"They still work out; they just look good doing
it." Metrosexual or not, "if he's hot, he's
hot," she added.
Masculine or feminine, the metrosexual trends are
catching on like wildfire. If you are not sure if you
are metrosexual or are on the road to becoming one,
read the top 10 signs offered by Russ on the Urban Dictionary's
Web site. You might be metrosexual if:
-
You just can't walk past a Banana Republic store
without making a purchase.
-
You own 20 pairs of shoes, half a dozen pairs of
sunglasses, just as many watches and you carry a
man-purse.
-
You see a stylist instead of a barber, because
barbers don't do highlights.
-
You can make her lamb shanks and risotto for dinner
and Eggs Benedict for breakfast... all from scratch.
-
You only wear Calvin Klein boxer-briefs.
-
You shave more than just your face. You also exfoliate
and moisturize.
-
You would never, ever own a pickup truck.
-
You can't imagine a day without hair styling products.
-
You'd rather drink wine than beer... but you'll
find out what estate and vintage first.
-
Despite being flattered (even proud) that gay guys
hit on you, you still find the thought of actually
getting intimate with another man truly repulsive.
If the top 10 signs are not enough information for
you click on a metrosexual quiz and take it. Remember
guys, a metrosexual is not gay he just has good taste
and a touch of femininity.
MS
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