Debbie Schlussel: Are Men the New Women?

By Debbie Schlussel

Earlier I wrote about women wanting to call football games--trying to be like men. But today, there are also two news items about men trying to be more like women:

* USA Today has a piece on men and waxing. Eeeuw.

Key Quote of the article: "Waxing makes up 35% to 40% of the business at Joq Day Spa for Men in Atlanta. 'Men are just becoming a lot more conscious of what their body looks like,' spa director Christopher Keever says."

First of all, there shouldn't be a "day spa" for men. Second, anything called the "Joq Day Spa for Men" is only for men whose favorite song is by "The Weathergirls." FYI, "jock" is spelled J-O-C-K, not with a Q. Anyplace that uses a Q, well, again, "The Weathergirls."

* The Detroit Free Press Business Page features this front-pager: "Generation Y Spending Trends: Manicured Men."

The print version of this article has a giant photo of someone named Guido Amato getting a facial. No-one named Guido Amato should be getting a facial. Incidentally, the "men's salon" (isn't "men's salon" an oxymoron?) where he gets his facials is called "Wise Guys." Amato admits he's been called a metrosexual. "When I hear that word, I just think, 'a guy that likes to take care of himself.'" No, Guido, that's NOT what it means.

Highlights, waxed brows, manicure, pedicure. These are the many women's products guys like Guido are now using. Sad.

It's not like there's a fine line between brute and metrosexual. There isn't. These emasculating grooming habits are definitely a turn-off. Unless you live in South Beach.

Posted by Debbie on August 24, 2005 03:52 PM to Debbie Schlussel