what does it mean when men "work hard for their looks"?

[ND-Dem]

So, what happens when CrossFit, paleo, and the alleged grooming boom enter the world? Men like O’Hagan, who have been told their entire lives that they don’t need meticulous upkeep, have crises. They even get to write about it in publications like T, telling other men that it’s simply not masculine to try and keep up. “Over-grooming is now a mode of hysteria common to every other man I know, and it isn’t attractive,” he writes. “I believe it feeds off a larger anxiety in the culture, the obligation to self-invent, the demand for constant increase, and it has made the men of my generation into emotional shadows of their former selves.” Perhaps most revealingly, he writes: “There is now an explicit pressure on men to impersonate the women in their lives.”

In other words, Mr. O’Hagan, welcome to what life feels like for women. The pressure to look young, be constantly fit, and be postpartum thin — all while looking effortless — is something women have been going through for ages, perhaps more so now than ever. But, now that the boys are just starting to feel that anxiety, it’s cause for alarm and a two-page article in the nation’s most prominent publication.

“I don’t care if you think it’s sexist: It’s not a man’s job to pluck his eyebrows or plump his lips,” he says. But, then, confusingly, he switches to the gender neutral, saying, “People must do as they wish, of course, but to my mind…” Then, he switches back to speaking specifically about men: “[M]ale beauty loses its essence with premeditation.”

In conclusion, guys shouldn’t have to work hard for their looks. But, women should still be dedicated to their beauty routines, and continue the often archaic upkeep standards imposed on them by society. Also, FYI, he doesn’t care if you think this is sexist. So there.

O’Hagan mistakenly thinks that there’s only one type of masculine beauty. He also thinks he can dictate what that looks like. But, beauty is entirely subjective. Some women (and men, because Refinery29, unlike the writer, does not prescribe to the heteronormative) prefer their men preened, six-packed, and waxed. Others like them tatted and bearded.

But, if all of this obsession with appearances — undoubtedly brought on by our society’s current wellness kick (and, of course, documenting it religiously on Instagram) — makes some men a little uncomfortable, that’s not a bad thing. O’Hagan, and a lot of men, could use a lesson in what it feels like to be critical of one’s appearance; to be judged by your body and age. Maybe then, they’ll be able to better understand the women in their lives, and maybe even apologize for unwittingly fueling the fire that’s burned so many.

https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/how-male-grooming-is-ruining-men-112053734788.html

I think this article is a crock of shit and actually mystifies what's going on in the culture, but I'd be interested in other people's reactions to it.

[Warpy]

1. I'm afraid dieting, preening and plucking are going to be more important to many men

as they strive to look youthful as that corporate age of obsolescence keeps getting pushed lower and lower.

It's not going to work, of course, any better than it works for women.

But yeah, welcome to our world, guys.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. yes, wasn't there a thread on here the other day about 40 being the new 50 in the work world.

the pressure for youth.

eta link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026274030

[Rex]

2. Nobody does that look better than Bela Lugosi.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. except for ... maybe ... Dorian Gray ... ?

[Rex]

5. Nah Bela is better, the picture that I posted is a still picture.

Oh sure, you swear it is moving...the power of the eyes of Bela!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. geesh, I dunno Rex ... looks pretty

giffy to me

[Rex]

7. LOL!

Okay ya got me!

[MADem]

8. Everything Old is New Again: Get pretty, fellers!!!

I imagine it sucks to be judged solely by the quality of one's "six pack" -- and we're not talking the kind that comes in a cardboard container with six bottles!

[Bonobo]

9. It's not new for men.

They just tend to whine about it less. Maybe they are just becoming more "vocal" about it as well.

[DFW]

10. It means......

To look as shabby as I do, a certain amount of effort goes into it. Nature didn't do this much damage all on her own.

[bluesbassman]

11. I hear that brother. It ain't the years, it's the mileage!

[DFW]

12. Got that right!

Obviously, I'm not the only guy here who knows

[WestCoastLib]

13. Nothing new here. There was a brief period of strangeness.

No...this is nothing new. There was a brief period of strangeness (compared to the rest of all human history) where the unpopular people with knowledge could get ahead.. That knowledge (of technology, programing, innovation, business, etc) has become so mainstreamed and the population grown so much that its like anything else. You better fit into the social norms too to really succeed.

Video killed the radio star.