Metrosexual: Encyclopedia II - Metrosexual - Narcissism and Changing Masculinity; the Metrosexual

Metrosexual - Narcissism and Changing Masculinity; the Metrosexual

Narcissism is an important element of the metrosexual concept. The metrosexual in its original form, as Simpson intended, is a person who desires to be what he sees in magazines and advertising. In On Narcissism, Sigmund Freud analyzes the psychological aspect of narcissism and comes up with the following explanation for narcissistic love:

Simpson’s metrosexual would in this case be a type C narcissist; the metrosexual loves what he would like to be, or in other words, what he sees in magazines and advertising.

The concept of masculinity has changed over history. Changes in culture and attitudes toward the male body have changed the meaning of masculinity. Metrosexuals made their appearance after cultural changes in the environment and changes in views on masculinity.

Simpson explains in his article Metrosexual? That rings a bell... that “Gay men provided the early prototype for metrosexuality. Decidedly single, definitely urban, dreadfully uncertain of their identity (hence the emphasis on pride and the susceptibility to the latest label) and socially emasculated, gay men pioneered the business of accessorising – and combining – masculinity and desirability.”^[3]

In its sound bite diffusion through the channels of marketers and popular media, who eagerly and constantly reminded their audience that the metrosexual was straight, the metrosexual has congealed into something more digestible for consumers: a heterosexual male who is in touch with his feminine side - he color coordinates, cares deeply about exfoliation, and has perhaps manscaped.

It is important to note that there are two sides of the metrosexual concept: the commercial side and the sociological side. The commercial concept of the metrosexual differentiates itself demographically from the original psychological and sociological concept. This may be due to marketers trying to broaden the appeal and maximize the profitability of the metrosexual. Although the sexual preference is immaterial in Simpson's tongue-in-cheek definition, the idea of men breaking gender roles without changing their sexual roles is novel, and the term has been applied primarily to straight men for that reason (and also, perhaps, because this reassurence is convenient to marketers). ^{[citation needed]}

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Narcissism and Changing Masculinity; the Metrosexual", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki