A man who dedicates a lot of time to taking care of his aesthetics is classified as metrosexual.
The word metrosexual is not yet part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) . Its use, however, is becoming more and more frequent.
Metrosexual is an adjective that refers to a man who cares about his image and who has certain tastes and customs generally associated with women (for example, the use of cosmetics, attraction to clothing or interest in personal aesthetics).
Emergence of the term metrosexual
The term includes the prefix metro (from metropolis ), since this trend developed in the urban area and large cities. The concept was proposed by journalist and writer Mark Simpson in 1994 to define a new type of man.
It could be said that a metrosexual is a man who lives in a city, is aware of the latest fashion trends, invests a lot of money in clothes, takes care of his skin with cosmetic creams and goes to a manicure. It is important to note that metrosexuality is not linked to sexual preference: metrosexuals can be heterosexual , homosexual or bisexual.
The metrosexual man seeks to like himself; Therefore, invest time and money in its aesthetic appearance. Unlike what could happen in past times, he does not hide his behavior, but rather manifests it publicly.
Metrosexuals are very interested in their image.
Breaking stereotypes
Metrosexuality, therefore, breaks the stereotype of the rustic man who tries to highlight his masculinity. On the contrary, the metrosexual is not afraid to show his feminine side, a decision that, in certain societies, generates rejection and public ridicule. The English footballer David Beckham is often considered a symbol of metrosexuals.
It is necessary to point out that homosexuality is not directly linked to the adoption of customs and personality characteristics of the opposite gender. Whenever metrosexuality is talked about, it is made clear that it is not related to the taste for people of the same sex; Since both concepts are absolutely independent, this reservation is invalid. A man is homosexual if he is primarily attracted to other men; Apart from his sexual relations, he can be messy, neglect his personal hygiene, enjoy football and car racing, video games and wrestling.
It is not uncommon to encounter gay men who behave much more masculine than the heterosexuals around them. In the same way, a homosexual woman can love aesthetic issues, fashion , perfumes and accessories, love movies and the music of Michael Bublé . It is more likely to find a mother of three children destroyed by her life as a housewife, with short hair due to lack of time to take care of it, wearing sports clothes that she inherited from her eldest son and with a complexion that has been moisturized for the last time. fifteen years ago, than with a lesbian with a masculine attitude.
Metrosexuals and the dominant model of beauty
With respect to the model of an attractive man in today's society , it is curious that the trend is aimed at young people under twenty years of age, with small bodies and little or no facial hair , who are very concerned about their physical appearance and their clothing . Justin Bieber's success is a clear example of the differences between the current concept of masculinity and the one that predominated when Frank Sinatra was the erotic myth of youth.
Cinema and television in recent times have transformed the tough characters that in another era would have been Rambo and Terminator into exponents of aesthetics and perfection, sacrificing their credibility in pursuit of an artificial style , which increasingly differentiates the actors from each other. computer generated models. In this case, many actors who in their personal lives do not worry about their physical appearance to the point of obsession, are forced to represent real living mannequins.