Impact of Metrosexual Towards Men;s Lifestyle

Specific purpose:
To give information about the metrosexual and its impact towards men’s lifestyle.

Central idea:
By exposing the metrosexual, it helps to determine the advantages and disadvantages of the metrosexual and also encourage men to change their lifestyle and can compete in the new era of globalization.

7.0 Introduction

7.1 Metrosexual Definition

Metrosexual is a word describing men who have a strong concern for their aesthetic appearance, and spend a substantial amount of time and money on their images and lifestyles.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the etymology and definition of the word are:
Ø Metro (in Metropolitan) and Sexual. A man whose lifestyle, spending habits and concern for personal appearance are likened to those considered typical of a fashionable, urban.
Microsoft Encarta Dictionary definition:
Ø Metrosexual is young straight stylish urban man: a young, straight, sensitive urban man who is unashamed to enjoy good clothes, stylish living, the art of decorating, and improving his personal appearance

7.2 History of Changing Masculinity

Traditional masculine norms, as described in Dr. Ronald F are avoidance of femininity, restricted emotions, sex disconnected from close relationship, pursuit of achievement and status, self-reliance, strength and aggression.
Statistics, including market research by Euro RSCG show that the pursuit of achievement and status is not as important to men as it used to be and neither is to a degree, the restriction of emotions or the disconnection of sex from intimacy. Another norm change is supported by research that claimed men no longer find sexual freedom universally enthralling. The most important shift in masculinity is that there is less avoidance of femininity and the emergence of a segment of men who have embraced customs and attitudes once deemed the province of women. What is accepted as "masculine" has shifted considerably throughout the times, so the modern concept of how a man should be differs from the ideal man of previous eras. Some styles and behaviors that are today considered feminine were in the past part of the man's domain (e.g. knee britches, makeup, jewelry). Hence, as the concept of femininity conquered more territory, masculinity became more restricted. Perhaps metrosexuality is a reaction against this shift, as some men feel too confined within the gender roles.
Changes in culture and attitudes toward masculinity, visible in the media through television shows such as Queer Eye for the Straight Guy have changed these traditional masculine norms. Metrosexuals only made their appearance after cultural changes in the environment and changes in views on masculinity.


7.3 The commercial metrosexual

7.3.1 Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is another often cited example of metrosexuality. Brad Pitt, born in 1963, American motion-picture actor, who became a celebrity and male sex symbol in the 1990s. Though popular for his blue eyes and strong physical features, Pitt has avoided being typecast for his looks and is known for the variety of his roles.


7.3.2 David Beckham

David Beckham is most popular football player. He is player of Los Angeles Galaxy. He born in 1975, English soccer player whose long, bending shots have made him popular in England and around the world. He also knew as icon of England. Hair style of Beckham being trends around the world.


7.3.3 Mike Greenberg

Another person who confesses to his metrosexuality is Mike Greenberg, co-host of the popular morning sports talk show "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN Radio. He also knew as best selling author. He has many times confessed to being metrosexual and his book has "Confessions of a Metrosexual Sportscaster" on it.

7.3.4 Dominic Monaghan

Another person who confesses to his metrosexuality is Dominic Monaghan, star of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Lost. He has jokingly admitted that he "believes he should have been a homosexual - because he loves make-up, painting his nails and wearing skirts", although some would argue that this points more towards transvestism.
7.3.5 Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger has often been called a metrosexual, and he apparently accepts the term. He has called himself a "shoe queen", and is known for his particular care in grooming, wardrobe, and jewelry. In the space of three decades, the Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger went from champion bodybuilder to film star to governor of California. He has played lead roles in a variety of action movies and comedies, ranging from the futuristic Terminator film series to the Christmas comedy Jingle All the Way (1996). With no previous political experience, Schwarzenegger captured California’s highest political office in a special election in 2003.


7.4 Main Point

7.4.1 Characteristics

7.4.1.1 Appearance

Men are taking a greater interest in their appearance. They go to hairdressers rather than barbers, avoid using soap because it's too harsh on their skin, visit the gym instead of playing sport and even have difficulty deciding what to wear for function such dinner, lunch with clients and more. Thus, men think that it is important to look smart in their dressing, face, hair.

7.4.1.2 Time Spent

Men are spending their time differently, not only occupying more of it in front of the mirror but also shopping at boutique stores, and going to beauty salons. Nowadays, men also shopping such women. The goods they not miss to buy is facial care such shave, facial foam and more. Men not only go for their sport activities, but they also go to gym. If they not time to go to the gym at morning because busy of their working, they will go at night.

7.4.1.3 Men Became Target Market

Marketers are spurring on the change, dropping the smart men from their products that target the market. Cosmetics brands are actively targeting the new, softer male, with Clarins the latest brand to launch male skin-care products. Men's fashion chains are growing, with women's stores such as Esprit launching men's ranges, and department stores are offering boutique-style experiences, too. Men's magazines are increasing their coverage of fashion not just for editorial reasons but because they're getting more ads. Fashion and grooming advertising is growing day by day such facial cleaners for men such Nivea product which advertise men facial foam, Brylcreem which spread product of facial foam for men, cream for hair and more.

7.4.1.4 Compete in Working Environment

As women have pushed for equal rights, the success of that push has fundamentally altered the way men and women interact within the workplace. Appearance and grooming are really important."
The workplace itself has changed for many men, too. As the proportion of white-collar workers grows, so does the need to look good. To compete in today's work environment, you must dress well, have your hair cut neatly and take care of your body. The workplace has become far more competitive. It has become incumbent on the individual to look his best. In interview for example, the good personnel grooming is a must to attract of interviewer at their first impression.

7.4.1.5 Purchasing Power

Men are also changing the way they buy homeware, cars and electrical goods. There are a lot of categories that are purchased by males but using what we would conventionally regard as female cues. Traditionally, when purchasing home entertainment systems we would expect guys to be motivated by gadgetry and technical features. But increasingly there's a certain type of male choosing it from what might be seen as female attributes, such as the environment of the store, level of service and other intangible things.
In car advertising, for example, much more emphasis is being placed on the people driving and the feelings they are experiencing rather than the car's specifications. Men prefer to buy car with have good specifications such power in their engine and also the car must smart when look from outside. Men also upgrade their car such change their color, upgrade the car such change cushion, spoiler, bumper, sport rim and more in purpose to make their car look different.


7.4.2 Men’s Fashion and Grooming

We all know that physical appearance plays an enormous role in determining how others perceive us. With these impressions being somewhat skin-deep, it pays to look younger, or at least well kept, whether in the workplace or in the dating arena.

7.4.2.1 Grooming – Body

Men's Fragrances - Floris London
Every once in a while review a product or profile a designer that is a little more unique and exclusive which also means harder to find. With that in mind, there is a fabulous English fragrance company such by the name of Floris that exclusive brand. Floris is a traditional English company with some excellent products. Another brand of men fragrance is Body Shop, Dunhill, and Ferrari etc.

7.4.2.2 Grooming- Skin Care

A) What Type of Skin Do You Have?

Our skin type is determined by how much or how little oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level, medication & even your skincare regimen all determine how much oil your skin produces. Use of right face cleansers is must to make sure face is can clean and not give problem.

B) Men's Skin Care - Face Cleansers for Men

Nowadays, many men stop using soap to clean their face. Usage of soap to the face will deteriorate our skin's natural, healthy appearance. There are many advanced cleansers out there that improve our complexion. Favorite face cleansers for men are Nivea, Brylcreem, and etc.
7.4.2.3 Grooming- Hair

If it's one thing men care about when it comes to grooming it's their hair, the kind on their head anyway. Whether it's flaking, gray, greasy, poorly cut, thinning or just plain falling out by the minute, it can be an instant indictment of a guy's appearance. All is not lost though.

A) Best Shampoos & Conditioners for All Hair Types
Shampoo is meant to remove dirt, sebum (oil), & product buildup from your hair. But there are dozens of different brands to choose from, and even more types within those brands. Different hair types using different shampoo such oily hair use shampoo for oily hair.

B) Hair Loss Treatments - Facts, Fiction and Tips
Since records began, men have documented their attempts to reverse the process of hair loss and cure baldness. Some creative but ultimately fruitless concoctions have been devised in an attempt to get the thatch back. Cleopatra used a mixture of horse teeth, bear grease, burnt mice and deer marrow in her attempt to cure Julius Caesar's baldness. We have made some progress since then. Have special treatment for men when have problem of loss hair. The treatment will grow back the hair.


7.4.2.4 Fashion- Clothes

Today’s male youth, has definitely become creative and exciting in choosing his attire. An executive during the week and a golfer on the weekends, he finds different ways to express his metrosexuality by adding bright and fresh colors to his wardrobe.
As a working man, an aqua, baby pink or pale lime tie added to a dark colored suit makes the perfect combination for a high powered lunch or meeting. Pin striped shirts with hints of fresh oranges, blues and greens are forever chic and all the rage. However, the latest trends are floral and printed shirts in an assortment of colors and shades- a cool addition to the metrosexual label attached to fashionable men. Surprisingly, this emerging trend looks very classy and attractive in a casual setting.

7.4.2.5 Fashion- Shoes

Shoes are capturing the attention of the style-conscious as casual and formal, laced and slip ons, are becoming the perfect compliment to a trendy outfit. This is a big step forward in men’s fashion wear as shoes were never given much importance in making a fashion statement. Shoes and other accessories are just as important in defining the kind of man we are as your clothes.
7.4.3 Advantages of Metrosexual


7.4.3.1 Avoid perceptions from female said that men is not take care of themselves

Women look and think that a man is simple in term of their dressing, health care, appearance care and more. Thus, they think that men not take care of themselves such just use soap to clean their body, clean face. If have metrosexual, then this perceptions from women can reduced and women know that men also take care of themselves of their body and health.

7.4.3.2 Easy to get job by attend interview

To attend an interview, it is must for men to have good personnel gromming in their dressing, body orders and etc. when they come in to interview by interviewer, when their dressing is smart such color of clothes is not too bright in color and hair is smart, the first impression from interviewer is the men is good person and systematic. Thus, it will be easy to get the job.

7.4.3.3 Income

When men take care of themselves such good in dressing, stylist hair, then they have opportunity to work as model of clothes, shoes and etc. If they metrosexual, have enough height, handsome, then they will be as model, as temporary or permanent model. They also can join program reality shows such Malaysian top host, Manhunt, Model in magazine and etc.

7.4.3.4 Self confident

Self confident is belief in own abilities or self assurance or a belief in our ability to succeed. For examples, when attend interview, if we enough prepared and also good in dressing which like professional , then self confident will have and we not too nervous to faced by interviewer and others panels and also not too nervous to answer interviewer questions.
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7.4.3.5 Can get many friends

As normal humanity, we must like to something which is smart, beautiful, clean, good smells and etc. From that, if we have friends of men which is metrosexual, definitely we comfortable to him in term of communications, done the study groups and etc. especially for men, when have men which metrosexual, they become admirer by many women.

7.4.4 Disadvantages of Metrosexual

7.4.4.1 Costly

To have own branded facial cleaners, Gillette MACH3 Turbo Razor, shampoo and conditioner branded brand, it will have high in cost. To people which have high income, not giving problems to them to get all above products. But to people not to have high income, this all needs cannot be satisfied. In addition, the brand and up-to-date clothing will cause high in cost such brand from Seed, Dunhill, Padini, Alfio Raldo and etc.

7.4.4.2 Just want to get/have friends with men with same characteristics (metrosexual)

Normally the metrosexual person comes from family who has high income. From that, they have ability to satisfy their needs to buy branded and up-to-date goods. Then the metrosexual is comfortable to have friends like him only. They don’t want friend not like him or low status.

7.4.4.3 Wrong perceptions

When men start to take care of themselves, spent their money to go to salon for their hair, shopping each month to buy perfumes, facial cleaners, foam, other men and especially women think that the men is like a girl and like to duplicate what the women done. They think a woman only is taking care of their self, their style; dressing and etc. this causes wrong perception to the metrosexual men.

7.4.4.4 Spending over their budget

Fashion of men style is updated day by day. For metrosexual men, they must follow the change of fashion style to look them up-to-date and smart. Then, to get the fashion, they must spend more each month. If they not budget schedule, then their spending must exceed.

7.5 Conclusion

In conclusion, it is depending to all the men to accept the metrosexual as their lifestyle. Thus, if men want become metrosexual, it is not wrongly acts but they must have their budget to buy the products or goods each month to make sure they not exceed their purchasing. Metrosexual giving benefits and the most important is they change perceptions of the women that men is not take serious about their self care and health. Technology will increase day by day and the lifestyle also changes too. Men with metrosexual and take care of their self and health but women are more care of their self and health.

7.6 Recommendation

7.6.1 Not to purchase beyond our income because over the budget will, make us not enough money to spend for future usage.

7.6.2 Men must take care of their self and health because if they look smart, everybody will like him and also easy to communicate and dealing with customers or clients in meetings or another purpose.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:


Metrosexual. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2007, from World Wide Web: http://www.wikipedia.com/Metrosexual/.html


The Rise of Metrosexual. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2007, from World Wide Web: http://www.smh,com.au


Men’s Fashion/Grooming. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2007, from World Wide Web: http://mensfashion.about.com/


Lifestyles. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2007, from World Wide Web: http://en.wikipedia/wiki/lifestyles


Metrosexual. Retrieved Sept. 20, 2007, from World Wide Web: http://www.humanpower-hud.blogspot.com