[Tax-chick]

I think it's just marketing, trying to force men into molds that most don't fit. Just about every "regular guy" has some interests or tastes that these people are defining as "gay-like." My husband likes to cook, too, and we go to the opera, ballet, classical music concerts, etc., when we've got money and a babysitter. And he's not any less "masculine" than if he didn't have those interests - these 7 kids came from somewhere!

As a woman, the thing I find most unattractive about the metrosexual "style" is men spending all that time and money on clothes and personal grooming. I'd much rather have a man who put that effort into something other than himself - like Cub Scouts. Being married to a narcissist would be a drag.

[TontoKowalski]

I'd much rather have a man who put that effort into something other than himself - like Cub Scouts.

Hey, I'm a Den Leader! Let's hook up if we both ever get divorced.

[retrokitten]

As a woman, the thing I find most unattractive about the metrosexual "style" is men spending all that time and money on clothes and personal grooming.

I agree. It's one thing to be stylishly dressed, it's another to spend 2 hrs staring at yourself in the mirror. My husband uses American Crew hair products, but that's only because I pick them up where I get my hair products and it's easier then running all over for shampoo. Even though he uses salon products he's still ready to go in about a quarter of the time I am.

BTW, I can't even imagine him at a day spa getting a "sports manicure and pedicure"!! LOL! I think he'd have to kick his own butt!

[Publius]

Just about every "regular guy" has some interests or tastes that these people are defining as "gay-like."

That has always frosted my chops. Every summer at the chamber music festival I sit next to a gay "married couple" -- a writer and a sculptor. They know almost as much about chamber music as I do, and I can have knowledgeable conversations with them about the subject. Now I'm being labeled as "ahem -- gay" because I'm always discussing the performances with them and their friends. It's annoying.

But I agree with you that all this primping is decadent.

[HitmanLV]

I agree with you, but I dispute that some things are 'gay-like.' I too enjoy cooking, I love movies old and new (mostly old - I'm the only straight guy I know with 1200+ DVDs), wnjoy museums and more cultured things also.

I also have been a lifeling fan of the WWF/WWE - wrestling, ah now that's a treat!

I think there is a split between men like me (unambiguously masculine) and men who make a regular stop for facials, a spa, and other things that, face it, will just make him feel more 'pretty.'

For me, a strong personal model for masculinity is Steve McQueen's Thomas Crown. Not a knucklehead, just a bit rough around the edges, a little bit of a rascal, and an all around unambiguously masculine male.

Thomas Crown go for an all day spa and facial? Getting his nails done and polsihed? No thanks, leave the Faye Dunaway types to Mr. Crown (and me!).

[Twinkie]

If you have your kids in daycare these days,
you might want to sort of hang around for
dress-up time. From what I've seen, they
actually encourage the little boys to dress
up in dresses and beads. The other day, I
saw this firsthand. There was a little boy
dressed up in the prettiest, long pink dress and
pink beads you ever saw. The director told him,
"Lookin' sharp, there, Petey!" - I can see not
screaming at a kid who did that, but actually
encouraging it seems a bit warped to me. Guess
there'll be a larger supply of cross-dressers
coming out of the educational system now.