After watching the Documentary "Mansom" I have taken an interest into further investigating men in modern society. In the 21st century it is not uncommon for a man to shave, wax, manicure and dress to impress. The name for this new man is known as the "Metro Sexual". For my final project I would like to interview men from different backgrounds such as straight white/black men and gay men and to pick their brains on their views of masculinity in today's more accepting society. So far from research i have found the the term "Metro sexual" is a term used to protect a straight man's ego and to separate himself from being mistakenly called a "homosexual". So far what I have come up with myself is that men can keep masculinity and express it in their own way straight or gay. Of course there are men that are against the metro-sexual movement feeling it is not of the norm as a role of a man. Instinctively we are programmed as mammals to find mates and in the animal kingdom it is the male that is given beauty to attract a mate. In the human world for most of our time on this planet it has been the female that is constantly bombarded with how to become the "ideal women". Now men are taking part in looking good too and still can hold on to their masculinity.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/style/metrosexuals-come-out.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/article/A-new-breed-of-men-is-redefining-masculinity-1123700.php
Your project topic sounds very interesting and touches on something that is not usually openly discussed in our society which is very exciting. In your proposal, you said "men can keep masculinity and express it in their own way straight or gay." I think it would be interesting to contrast that with how women are can/cannot keep their femininity while expressing themselves freely. It's always interesting to analyze the practices that are 'allowed' by our society for both sexes and see how they differ.
ReplyDeleteI agree, great topic to develop a project on. I would love to hear comments from actual men how identify them selves as metrosexual. Would be interesting to find out what drives them to become one or metrosexuality is something you are born with? Also, there is a high possibility that some of the homosexual men call them self a metrosexual or believe that they are metrosexuals due to the social pressure. That might be another interesting point of view.
ReplyDeleteGood luck.