Metro-sexual is a 21st century term developed in response to a noticeable growth in Male grooming and fashion habits and to describe heterosexual men that displayed characteristics that are often associated with homosexual men, and up until this week many would have used this term to describe friends, relatives, colleagues and celebrities alike. However, as Stand Out Model Agency provide recent beauty and grooming study, they say that 93% of men say that the term “Metro-sexual” is offensive and that’s not all the statistics show that are interesting.
1,000 men and 1,000 women aged 18-64 were surveyed bringing to light some very interesting findings. As expected the survey verified long held stereotypes on women’s beauty and grooming as women through the study appear to spend more time and money on grooming and beauty as a reaction to pressure to look younger and to project a confident, feminine, classic, youthful and intelligent look. However the survey’s men demonstrate some exciting findings that show a marked increase in the time men spend in the bathroom pampering and preening themselves with only a 7 minute gap between the time male and female’s spent on their daily beauty regimes.
The media and press are always reminding their viewers of the pressure women face to look good, though the survey shows that this pressure to project specific gender defined stereotypes doesn’t just affect women as when asked “Compared to 10 years ago, are men today under more pressure to care about their appearance?” 72% of men and 78% of women said yes. The image these men are all trying to project? Well one of confidence, masculinity and intelligence that is also cool and classic of course. Just like the images of celebrities like Brad Pitt and George Clooney no less.
Women, i’m sure are not complaining about the higher standards of grooming and beauty men are finding themselves faced with these days and the men don’t seem to be complaining either, as the surveys findings imply that compared to 10 years ago 63% more of men are actually enjoying the time they spend performing their daily grooming routines and are spending up to £121 a year on everything from shavers to shampoo.
What remains to be answered from this survey is however if these numbers are admissions to men’s feelings of insecurity and worries about acceptance or a display of a new acceptance and a welcomed growth of male beauty, a word that is not placed often enough next to the words man or male. One thing that is for sure however is that men, just like women are eager to leave the house looking their best and who can blame them!
Writteb by Dinita Moore
Well written, good article.
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