Searching out for the new “type” of man

Translated by Lorena Stroka

He is nether homosexual nor heterosexual, he is a “metrosexual”. He is a “straight” man  who knows and keeps up with  fashion, gastronomy, beauty, health, a man  who is not ashamed of being polite, of expressing his weaknesses and feels self-confident enough to openly speak his preferences and his interests. David Beckham’s style for example, if you don’t mind painted fingernails. And yet before we get to know him better we hear that he is about to let go of his title.  

Everybody now is talking about his successor, something between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. This naming was not a success. 18 months have gone by  since the day Marian Salzman, communication specialist, published a survey in which she recorded the changes in man’s behavour in 21st century. To our great relief in the shoes of “macho” man, the “tough” guy, appeared the “metrosexual” not Sylvester Stallone but Mister Big, Mister Perfect. It’s been six months and the term “metrosexual” was in the annual list of language entry that are going to be removed from the dictionary, which is being compiled by professors at the Lake Superior State University in Michigan. It seems as if, it turned out that men were annoyed at the alienated from the new terminology, maybe because marketing specialists have also lost control. However, statistics continue to support the idea of a man who is smart and creative shopper, who go against many stereotypes, who is willing to express his emotions and show his vulnerability: 83% of British people support equality between two sexes, 80% detest the idea of on-night stand and prefer to be in long term relationships, 82% consider face & body care necessary while only 10% consider themselves as “masters of the game”. After all, the term may have not been that appropriate. But what does “metrsexual” really mean? In England as well as in US the figures are extremely impressive, outlining in a vivid way the type of new man.

According to a New York based marketing communications agency, last year there was a 21% increase in the number of male shoppers who visited stores as “male” imitate their wives or girlfriends shopping patterns rather than their fathers”. An increase also scored the aesthetic surgeries (31%), the purchases of home decorations or items (16%), beauty products (9%)… Then why are we not surrounded by men with great taste, great skin, great mood? The problem is that they never actually wanted to join the club of “metrosexual”… They certainly do care about their looks but who really wants to balance between straight or gay… who knows that? Haven’t we got already enough labels? Brad  Pitt and George Clooney for example have stated in their interviews that they prefer to be characterized like “super-sexual” and “hetero-metro-sexual” than the one of  “metrosexual”. They may enjoy buying cosmetics in order to cover any imperfection, to put on blush not to look pale, to buy anti-wrinkle creams, even terracota in order to look sun-kissed but this is something that they keep for themselves. No matter, just in case, they always have a concealer hidden in their bag. In case you are not aware of the meaning of the term “concealer” you probably don’t run the risk of being called “metrosexual”./AlbStroka.com/

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