Where are the Masculinists?
Fri, November 9, 2007 We have Feminists, but what is the equivalent in the male world? There is no such word.
Most of today’s women dress in fashionable clothes and do all they can to look their best. The way men used to dress. It is all about self-esteem, feeling good about yourself.
Back in the 1940s and 1950s men dressed with style, wore suits, ties, and hats. Even into the 1970s, men wore stylish clothes, with close fitting shirts and pants, showing off their bodies with pride.
I’m not sure what happened between the mid 1980s and now, but today the average American man has to be the worst dressed in the world. Not only the worst dressed, but in the poorest physical condition.
I am not just talking about middle aged men here, I mean guys in their twenties. It is a fact that the US Military has a hard time finding recruits in acceptable physical condition.
Have you also noticed how men are constantly ridiculed and put down in television commercials, and sit-coms? If women were portrayed with such negativity, there would be public outcry. And it is a standing joke that the only men who care about their appearance are gay men.
The sad thing is, this has become accepted. I look around me and I see young men, in their twenties, bordering on obesity, dressed in shorts and an old tee shirt. No thought what-so-ever put to a hairstyle, and invariably wearing a sun visor, indoors, at night.
Their girl friend on the other hand, is slim, attractive, and extremely well dressed. I am not saying there are not obese women out there, but I see a lot of young girls in their teens or twenties out running or jogging. It is on rare occasions I will see a young man of similar age exercising.
So why should today’s twenty something male even make the effort to stay in shape, if he can still get a girl friend? If you are obese in your twenties, you are going to have serious health problems by the time you reach forty.
Diabetes, heart disease, and now even cancer are linked to obesity. You will probably die in your fifties. So if you are twenty-five and obese, consider yourself middle aged.
Everything worthwhile in life takes a degree of effort. It definitely takes effort to exercise and become physically fit, and having done that, how much extra effort is to take the time to dress in stylish clothes.
But my old tee shirt, baggy shorts, and flip-flops, are comfortable, you say. Let me ask you this; how would you feel if women, started dressing in this fashion? No make-up, or hair style, no attractive shoes and clothes. For me the world would become a dull and less beautiful place.
Would you like to live in a society where everyone, men and women, dressed in the same drab uniform? Don’t you think a little quality of life would disappear? A man can dress casually and for comfort, without looking like a slob.
It will probably be another 50, or even a hundred years before men wake up, and realize what has happened to them. Men will be where women were a hundred years ago. Maybe then, there will be a masculinist movement.
In the mean time it is up to the individual; get on a bicycle and loose some weight. There is no greater feeling in the world than the feeling of being physically fit. In addition, it is all about self-esteem and feeling good about yourself.
Once you are in good physical shape, go out and get some fashionable clothes. Dress like a movie star, and you will feel like one. I guarantee you will become successful in every aspect of your life.
An attractive, fit, healthy person dressed well will always turn heads. That goes for men as well as women.
Addendum: Before you post further comment on this piece, read my response to the comments posted so far.
Reader Comments (29)
Feminism (the belief that women are equal to men) has nothing to do with fashion. It's opposite is male chauvinism. Male equivalent to feminism does not exist because the majority of people in our culture never thought that women would be superior to men.
Getting fit and well dressed does not change the personality. One does not become a winner through buying fashion, just the same low self esteemed loser in nice clothes.
I'm not fat but I have other physical qualities that made me a target of bullying as a kid. Because of that I am very shy and have a low self esteem (and a wife, kids and a bloody well paying job as a computer nerd). No amount of clothes will change that. I would just be worrying to death about whether I have the "right" fashion or not.
double negative... I know.
but regardless, men are encouraged to be lazy through the media more than women. look at any commercial "couple" - bigger guy with a small cute girl. or like on the King of Queens show.
The problems are much more than clothes though as I'm sure you know. Having four sons, I've witnessed the power of silly peer pressure and lazy habits. Unfortunately, these negatives are reinforced by many mindless tech toys and lower societal standards.
One of my older sons (25) rides his bikes daily and has yet to own/lease a car as a TX resident. He tells me the problems are quite serious and most friends his age refuse to grow up.
Endless battle...
Jack
As for men not caring what they look like anymore, I believe they're being misled by the mass media and TV commercials as to what they ought to look like. How else could you explain the messy hair and 2-day stubble look that is now so popular? Nobody could have come up with that on their own without being told that's what they're supposed to look like to be "in".
That's why I like to be clean shaven on the commute to the office--in the event one might slow down long enough to chat with me!
Cheers!
and that's not even addressing the egregiously, aggressively stupid "masculinist" issue. there are no "masculinists" because men have, throughout the history of western civilization, been the people who hold the reins of power. for the same reason, the "national association for the advancement of white people" is filled with racists and holocaust deniers - white men have never been systematically oppressed in the same manner that minorities or women have been in america.
so fuck off. and i'm removing your blog from my rss reader.
To echo a previous poster, feminism exists because men have always had the power. Those in power are already established, they don't need a movement to empower them!
However, I think it's a knee-jerk reaction to equate paying some attention to appearance with shallowness. I think we can pay attention to how we look without being slaves to trends or being too judgmental. It's been lost along with civility and patience.
There is hope. In recent years it's become more acceptable for men to groom and actually make conscious decisions about clothes. They even have a term for it, which of course links it with being gay: "metrosexual."
When you ride a bike you are on display, so I dress better when I ride then why I drive. I wear suede touring shoes, shorted trousers, long socks, and a jersey, all wool. Sometimes I'll rock a Ben Sherman or a polo shirt instead of the jersey. FWIW, I ride mostly lugged steel, drop bar geared road bikes, with some aggression too.
Watch "The Biggest Loser", "What Not to Wear" and the other gazillion shows on personal makeovers. And if you still don't believe...try it yourself.
Low self esteem gets counteracted by self empowerment.
Oh, and let's not forget the bagging jeans/pants. If you are going to look like a criminal("gangsta") at least wear clothes so that when you run from police you won't be tripped up by your pants falling down.
I think the issue that's coming up is that Dave M is soapboxing on isses that really aren't that relevant to cycling. Or at least, could be better discussed elsewhere. This is why some people have had enough, I would guess.
Near as I can tell no one is forced to read it or agree with anyone else's opinions.
Personally I don't have a problem with reading another person's opinions even if I don't agree with them, if the man wants to spout off about something, this is his place to do it, if you don't like it start your own blog.
Soapboxing is a way to affect other peoples opinions. I (author of the first two comments) think Daves opinion about this subject is uneducated and it needs to be changed.
The history of cycling, especially in GB, was promoted as a natural and unintrusive means to enjoy and celebrate all that makes life worth living. Cyclists were urged to ride, dress, and behave like gentlemen as they toured and met others on their country rides. Cyclists understood and appreciated that their image would reflect on all cyclists. Who is better to represent the value of man's greatest invention than the dedicated rider?
If the youth of today would put their finger gadgets aside for a few minutes and read, perhaps a greater understanding would emerge.
"Everything worthwhile in life takes a degree of effort",... too true. Keep writing Dave, you're saying much more than many appreciate or understand.
Jack
When I see videos from the 70's and 80's, men's clothing certainly was having a golden age, now torn jeans and baggy shorts have become the order of the day.
Part of the problem with the above probably lies in the fact that women today have more dress choices than men do. I mean, face it, we men... all we think about is a jeans or short and that's it. With the choices women have, they have more to play around with. And after talking to one female, I was made aware of the fact that most women love fashion and are in tune with whats hip,cool,up to date and what's not. We men rarely think about all these things, I don't think we hardly care.
As for the feminist movement, I believe the strive towards equality between men and women is what started it all... there isn't one for men simply because he is all powerful and has always had lesser things to worry about than women.
Nice blog btw, check mine out sometimes as well...CHeers!
Nick Marinelli in Birmingham
Today, brazenly worn torn jeans and having messed up hair may be the fashion. When in Rome, be a Roman right? But it think it suits some people more than others. Its when everyone thinks that what they're doing suits them that we find a group of beggars walking on the street.
People need to think about clothing more.
well...
not really
but I am a bit of a slob
I shave once a week
twice max
my clothing a work is usually wrinkled from being in my backpack
or the same stuff I wore days prior but did not bring home
wow...
you really were under attack by these people
I could not wade through the comments
sadly
the superficial appearances to effect how we are perceived and how we behave
as far as pretty goes...
it goes a long way
see who people hold the door open for
then take it from there
Masculinism doesn't at all need to be some mirror image of feminism. Men have other grievances.
One reason why women are better dressed might be that they have more choice. A man can't wear a dress, but a woman can wear a suit. Even so, I agree that a small amount of effort would do wonders for many men's presentation.
I agree that class in Manhattan is all it is in fact.
John K.
I definitely agree too. Great article by the way. I really enjoyed reading it.