Beauty Myth - Disproved?

Rise Of The Metrosexual

What about men?

This Beauty Myth is gradually becoming a debacle before my eyes.

To suggest that men are nowhere near as pent up and restricted by their own egocentric view of themselves seems ridiculous in 2012. Maybe in 1991 when it was published, but really Naomi Wolf?

Men are caring abou their self image more than ever before, which has lead to a boom not only in male fashion but malse cosmetics as well. With "leading luxury brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Clinique and Clarins scrambling to expand their lines to meet the boom in demand. Beauty for blokes is becoming big business" (Male Grooming Suits You Sir). From 2001 to 2006 the male cosmetic market has reportedly swelled by a staggering 800%, with the UK male grooming market expected to reach £1.5 billion by 2003  (MGSUS).

The fact that the average man is comfortable wearing make up highlights the tremendous shift that men have made.

There are multiple sources (especially the Daily Mail) reporting that men now on average spend longer on personal grooming than women do. Men spend around 83 minutes a day, whereas women only spend 79 minutes. Men are also on average spending only 19p less monthly on grooming products than women (Rise of the Metrosexual).

This change has also spread to the fashion industry, where male fashion is rising as well. A fellow blogger perfectly illustrates what is happening, "There has been a recent phenomenal up rise of men's fashion within the media and society as men are becoming more prominent on the runway. Many fashion events have been altered to include many more menswear opportunities than ever before and it seems that it is slowly competing with women's wear for the reign in the fashion industry"(The Recent Uprise of Male Fashion). The boom of male fashion is so dramatic that male fashion weeks are being created.


So I think it would be fair to say that men are at least as vain and self conscious as women since men actually seem to be beginning to surpass women in all the beauty markets of the world.

However there are other aspects of The Beauty Myth that I have failed to cover. Like, whether beauty is an actual requirement for women to get jobs.

I hope to talk all about this and more in one of my following blogs.