Fashion trends for men these days change faster than lipstick shades. What types of men exist in our society today, and how to build relationships with them?
Macho
He was the ideal man of the 90s: a steroid-pumped brute with a shaved head, wearing a tracksuit or (and) a raspberry-colored jacket. Fierce and gloomy, he drove a jeep, carried money in boxes (and not only from under the photocopier), flashed a “piece” and called on a “mobile” phone half a meter long. A so-called “solid guy”: “powerful, smelly, and businesslike.” Minor henchmen at nightclubs and bars proudly introduced themselves to girls: “I’m a racketeer!”
Our macho was aggressive, untamed, and primitive. The only thing that could touch his “rough, yet tender” soul was songs about the Vladimir Central prison and the cafeteria lady Ninka, who was “a model wife in public, but in bed—a witch gone mad.”
Attitude toward women
Weak women are “cows,” “sluts,” “tits,” “poodles” in their eyes; the main thing is that they have well-developed secondary sexual characteristics. Machos, slightly tamed by civilization, look for a modest, submissive, family-oriented woman as a wife.
Life with him will definitely not be boring. Macho constantly seeks trouble, so his wife often has to bring packages (to prison or to the hospital) or escape from his henchmen, as men of this type are incredibly jealous of everyone and everything.
Where do they live?
In security agencies, law enforcement bodies, among military personnel, and… in places not so distant.
Metrosexual
This type emerged as a reaction to the macho image (popular not only here—recall the characters played by Banderas and Steven Seagal). The term “metrosexual” was coined by journalist Mark Simpson, inspired by the series “Sex and the City,” where the female characters were constantly amazed by men’s widespread fascination with fashion, cosmetics, and psychology. Metrosexuals themselves say this is their response to feminists. If women can express the masculine side of their character, why can’t men demonstrate feminine traits?
For the “metro,” the key concept is “fashionable.” He shops only in expensive boutiques, frequents only trendy clubs, and is a connoisseur of luxury cars and exotic cuisine. He takes care of his health, goes to fitness centers and beauty salons. He differs from an ordinary neat man by a certain degree of fanaticism: not just a manicure, but one with clear or even pink polish; not just any aftershave gel, but cleansing creams and anti-aging face masks.
At the same time, a metrosexual can be of any sexual orientation. Although the only romance in his life that never ends is the one with himself, his beloved.
Attitude toward women
When a metrosexual looks at a woman, he primarily assesses how well she matches him and his car. She must look stylish—so that it’s not embarrassing to appear with her in public. And she must share his interest in the latest trends. But be aware: if he sees a new handbag on you, he might whisper in your ear with pale lips: “Sweetheart, that shape is no longer in fashion this season!”
Life with him is a fireworks display of parties, social events, fashion shows, and premieres. It’s conversations about existential and cognitive psychology. It’s hours of shopping. Flirting is an inseparable part of a metrosexual’s life, so be prepared for him to engage in passionate, lengthy conversations with other women. At the same time, the “metro” himself is very jealous—and if he notices you showing interest in another man, you’re in for an inevitable scandal on the verge of hysteria: how could you do this, when he is the best…
Where do they live?
There are many metrosexuals in show business and design. You can find such men at presentations, nightclubs—in short, everywhere it’s “fashionable” to be. The metrosexual image hasn’t captured Russia as strongly as other countries, but we still have isolated examples. Typical “metros” include Nikas Safronov and Ilya Lagutenko.
Technosexual
This term appeared back in the 1970s, linked to men’s sexual attraction to technology. But while at that time a representative of this type was a strange creature in a plaid shirt, thick glasses, unwashed for at least three days, and unshaven even longer, today the technosexual looks somewhat more civilized. He now pays attention to his diet and health, and in his apartment, piled high with electronic gadgets, there’s even space for a fitness machine. A tech enthusiast might even (horror!) disconnect from his “computer” once a week to meet his beloved girl.
Otherwise, the technosexual remains the same “geek” as before. The virtual world is closer and more familiar to him than reality. All his time is devoted to exploring the latest “gadgets” on his computer, installing stereo and video systems at home, buying a refrigerator with a built-in TV. Bill Gates is the technosexual’s ideal.
Attitude toward women
A technosexual is only interested in a woman with whom he has something to talk about: she must master all the technical terminology, be just as obsessed with new technologies and upgrades. The woman of his dreams pays her mobile phone bills online, shops via the Internet, and tracks her child’s movements through the network by attaching a small beacon to their backpack.
The advantage of living with a technosexual is freedom from many household chores. You will definitely have the most modern appliances capable of washing, cleaning, sweeping, cooking, and baking for you. The downside is that, despite the abundance of “helpers,” you’ll never achieve complete order in the house: wires, parts, soldering irons, and tools will be scattered everywhere.
Where do they live?
Only in the Network. That’s where he has friends, acquaintances, and where he searches for a girlfriend as well.
Retrosexual
Do you visit a cosmetologist to remove unwanted hair from your legs or upper lip? These men, on the contrary, turn to specialists to have hair follicles transplanted onto their chests because they don’t seem “hairy enough.” Plastic surgeons in the U.S. report that more and more men are coming to them requesting to make their appearance rougher: a larger nose, a squarer jaw. Fashion, as we know, is a capricious lady. After swinging from one extreme—metrosexuals—to the other, she has now placed a new breed of men on a pedestal: retrosexuals.
In their manifesto, they urge their fellow men to become real men, whose main quality is the ability to “handle things,” even with a weapon in hand if necessary (does this remind you of anything?).
Of course, this isn’t the pure 90s macho; they open doors for women, pay for them in restaurants, and even give up their seats in public transport. The retrosexual knows how to earn big money with minimal effort. He loves to sleep and eat, drinks whisky, smokes cigars, follows fashion trends but without fanaticism (especially after age 30).
Attitude toward women
They like beautiful, well-groomed women. It’s even better if the woman has a shrewish personality—they enjoy eccentric behavior, as it keeps them on their toes. But most importantly, she shouldn’t be overly burdened with intellect or career ambitions. The father of the retrosexual is Gosha from the film “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears.”
With a retrosexual man, you can allow yourself to be a weak woman. Or pretend to be. If you look into his eyes and repeat, “How smart (brave, strong) you are!”, the relationship can be long and strong. They fall for compliments. This is the type of man with whom you should use feminine wiles.
Where do they live?
In firms, companies — in mid-level management positions.
Ubersexual
It seems he has finally arrived… The man capable of peacefully coexisting with a strong, intelligent woman, without burdening her with his own achievements and successes.
Outwardly, the ubersexual is elegant, but not overly sweet. At the same time, he is neither rough nor sloppy; he knows how to take care of himself. He is interested in politics, ecological issues. The ubersexual is positive, energetic, and engages in sports. These are calm, liberal people, ready to compromise.
Attitude toward women
For such a man, a woman is an equal partner; he values her individuality and does not demand that she look like a model from a glossy magazine cover. Yet, the ubersexual will not allow a woman to ride on his shoulders or turn him into a henpecked husband. Femininity, charm, intelligence, intellect, the ability to carry on a conversation in any company — these are the qualities he expects from his partner.
Life with him is very comfortable. The ubersexual does not divide chores into “men’s” and “women’s”: he won’t lie on the couch waiting for you to come home from a meeting and cook dinner. He’ll handle the problem himself. This is a highly responsible person: your children from a previous marriage won’t scare him; he will accept them as his own.
Where do they live?
In the Red Book… But in reality, it’s not so bad. In the West, ubersexuals are becoming increasingly common. Still, many of our women, after reading about this breed, will probably say: “What’s new here? That’s exactly what my father (grandfather) was like.” Indeed, this is precisely how many of us imagine the True Man. Sooner or later, men of this type will surely return to our lives. And “we shall be happy”!
