The metrosexual revolution

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | June 16, 2003 | PA

[Mister Magoo]

The metrosexual revolution June 16 2003

David Beckham has his Victoria, but Britain's metrosexuals say Felicity Kendall, Nigella Lawson, and Kylie Minogue are their ideal women.

British men are increasingly becoming "metrosexuals", straight men who know and care about fashion, food, and good grooming, according to a new study.

Australia's Kylie Minogue and British actress Felicity Kendal and Nigella Lawson are the women of their dreams - in different roles.

Soccer star David Beckham and swimming champion Ian Thorpe have been held up as personifying metrosexuals.

Given just one wish, nearly a third would choose to grow old with the woman they love (the most-chosen scenario), while 19 per cent would wish that their children have happy, healthy lives.

The woman described by most British men as "closest to my ideal wife" is Felicity Kendal, star of '80s and often repeated sitcom The Good Life, with 21 per cent.

As a dream lover, 25 per cent of men chose Kylie Minogue, way ahead of Rachel Stevens from the British pop group, Sclub7, the choice of 18 per cent.

And if Felicity is unavailable as a spouse, second choice is Nigella Lawson, with 13 per cent, and Rachel Stevens is third, with 12 per cent. Marge Simpson scored 4.2 per cent.

Modern British men have accepted the feminist revolution of the past 30 years and have become much more feminine in the process, the research states.

Nearly threequarters agree that women should get equal pay for equal work, and only 10 per cent say they'd like to see a return to traditional sex roles.

Further evidence of the softening of modern man came in the way that British men describe themselves.

Seventy-six per cent see themselves as "easygoing" 72 per cent as "caring" and 68 per cent as "open-minded."

In contrast, just 10 per cent describe themselves as "dominant" and only three per cent claim to be a "stud". Modern men are also deeply committed to their partners.

Eighty per cent reject the idea of a life of casual sex in favour of a committed relationship.

Just nine per cent would choose to be a football star and seven per cent would opt to head a multinational company.

Given a list of male role models, nearly one in four men said they'd most like to be like Sean Connery, while just 15 per cent opted for footballer David Beckham.

The study, The Future of Men, is based on a survey of 1,000 British men and produced by communications group Euro RSCG Worldwide.

PA

[Mister Magoo]

If 72% of British men think they are "caring," I can't imagine British women being thrilled about this. Women like to say publicly that they want a caring man, but more often than not, they will turn right around and date the Alpha male.

[longtermmemmory]

real men don't do highlights. Real men definitly stay far way from maxim's "men's" hair products.

[FLAMING DEATH]

True, true, true.

I am a nice guy who has several Alpha Males as friends. They're really pretty good guys most of the time, but when they get around women, all intelligence goes out the window and they act like gorillas in heat.

And of course, the only conversation that I have with women when I am around them is when I introduce myself and they ask me, "Who's your friend?"

[Cathryn Crawford]

What man wouldn't want to look like this?

Damn, damn, damn...

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #1

It is interesting to note that a woman who loudly claims to be for a caring man typically dates alpha male but still insists him to be a caring man. Is this some kind of lefty-inspired control scheme?

This is more like those liberals who loudly espouse socialims but can't live away from comforts of evil capitalist society, but do their best to ruin the system that feeds them at all costs.

[LurkerNoMore!]

Maybe there is hope for scarf-wearing men.

[LiteKeeper]

yep!

[Porterville]

Does that mean the British are learning how to brush their teeth and wear deodorant??? Welcome to civilization; now we must civilize the French.

[Mr. Mojo]

"metrosexuals", straight men who know and care about fashion, food, and good grooming, according to a new study.

I'm no "metrosexual," but I care about food (I'm very particular about my chili burgers and beer), grooming (I shower and shave almost every day), and fashion (I do my best NOT to wear what's in style).

[Dan from Michigan]

Modern British men have accepted the feminist revolution of the past 30 years and have become much more feminine in the process, the research states

As someone of Irish blood, all I can say is Bwahahahahahahahhaha.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Most women tell their friends that they want a sensitive, caring guy with highlights; but what they really want is a man to take care of them.

Don't jump on me, girls!

Taking care of a woman doesn't necessarily mean jumping all over them or holding them back. It means esteeming her more than you do yourself; it means being there for her; it means kicking butt for her if that's what's required; it means taking care of your children; it means honoring her, respecting her.

That's what women want, not some sappy manicured pansy with a blowout.

[FLAMING DEATH]

The truth is, they want everything. The aggressive, almost animalistic Alpha Male type, but also person that they can have an intelligent conversation with. Unfortunately, both don't come in the same package, and the drive to have an Alpha Male is greater. That's why they end up dating a jerk, but having an intelligent, caring guy as their "best friend". He's always the one who gets her problems dumped in her lap because Joe Knuckledragger won't listen to her.

I always ended up being the "best friend" type until I finally started addressing stupidity for what it is and telling my female friends that they were idiots for putting up with the cheating and lying that these guys adopt as their mode of operation.

Of course, I've neve been able to make the transistion to the Alpha Male, and I'm not even sure I want to.

[FLAMING DEATH]

In the first paragraph, that should be "dumped in HIS lap".

It is late.

[Mr. Mojo]

I've never been able to make the transistion to the Alpha Male, and I'm not even sure I want to.

That's alright. ...As long as you stopped being a sounding-board for neurotic females, you've improve yourself sufficiently.

[August West]

What is an ALPHA male?

[RichInOC]

Metrosexual? Is that like what Tom Cruise did with Rebecca de Mornay on the El train in "Risky Business"?

[Mister Magoo]

Alpha males always mate more. For instance, Jack Welch wrote in his book Straight from the Gut — and by the way Jack is short and bald — he said, 'Being rich is like standing 6-foot-4 and having a full head of hair. You get lots of dates with very attractive women,'"

[Dan from Michigan]

There's a way around that. There's nothing worse than can happen to a jerk than getting his ass kicked. 90% of them are all talk anyway.

[FLAMING DEATH]

Well, I always thought playing the "caring friend" was an inside line. I thought that eventually, the girl would wake up and come to her senses, and there I'd be, the obvious choice, the loyal friend who could easily become the caring boyfriend...

It never works. As long as I was there to provide a sympathetic shoulder to cry on, they didn't NEED a caring guy. They could turn their attention to the mental midgets who treated them like sh**.

[Mr. Mojo]

It never works

Be thankful that you learned that lesson; a lot of guys haven't.