The Times today carries a feature I think will eventually cause a lot of buzz. It's entitled Metrosexuals, and deals with the emergence of a new trend -- young, straight, urban guys who defy traditional gender stereotypes. (Registry is free at NYT if you can't access the article.) These are "straight guys who (are) into Diesel jeans, interior design, yoga and Mini Coopers, and who would never think of ordering a vodka tonic without specifying Grey Goose or Ketel One." They like shopping and know how to cook.
The more I thought about the phenomenon, the more sense it made. You have large numbers of upwardly-mobile whites leaving the 'burbs and repopulating the cities. You've had 10 years of the Pink '90s popularizing or at least leeching the stigma from a lot of things that were formerly considered "gay" -- for example grooming, fashion and camp. And there's the trend of the middle classes beginning to appreciate things that were previously reserved for the upper-middle, like interior design, exotic skin treatments, haute couture, mochaccino and the like. How many people knew what salade niçoise or freschetta were 15 years ago?
Lastly, perhaps as America continues to evolve into a neo-imperial power, it's also developing some of the traits of empire, such as decadence. The Metrosexuals sound like they would have gotten on quite well with Wilde and the Decadents.
While not about to 'come out' as a Metrosexual anytime soon, I could identify with much of the article. A lot of what the author has written rings true. But unlike the author, I don't see it as a radical redefinition of masculinity. I'll develop that idea in my next post on the subject.
Posted by Discoshaman at juin 25, 2003 04:49 PM | TrackBack
hmmm, interesting. I think Metrosexuals hit the UK a few years ago. Definitely, I can vouch for having a number of "them" in my social circle. I would argue it is no bad thing, and it's certainly not a radical redefining of male sexuality/manliness. It's just quite pleasant not to have to nag a boy to change his clothes!!!! I like your site btw. Good luck with PhD plans and all blessings to you and your family.
Posted by: Lesley at juin 26, 2003 12:06 PMThere have certainly been articles over here lauding David Beckham as the leading metrosexual.
Posted by: Adam Tinworth at juin 26, 2003 02:02 PMWhomever coined the term Metrosexual is a genius.
Posted by: sarah j. at juin 28, 2003 10:08 AMSarah-
I think PoMoSexual has even more flair to it... It'll be interesting to see if either of them ever catches on enough to make the OED.
Posted by: Discoshaman at juin 28, 2003 09:32 PM