Who hasn't heard this part of the poem:
Now another feature we will focus upon is masculinity, maleness or the characteristics that distinguish a person from females. This term is a cultural construct. It is defined by the various cultural norms, values and mores. Moreover, the social institutions have an influence on the genders and their roles/ features.There was a time when men were appreciated for being "rough n' tough". It was good to be tall, dark and well-built. But today we see more of the pretty, cheeky faces of the girlish boys who're afraid of playing outside because they'd lose their fair complexion; and yet those who go for all sorts of fairness creams to look "fair n' lovely". Now men are also thronging into parlors, getting all the services that women get for their appearance grooming.
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The factors of having such strong aesthetic sense and urge to look good include status consciousness, competition among same gender colleagues and development of relationships. The problem of class difference, social stratification and the urge to be equal or look similar to those of the more privileged class has indulged men in spending extravagantly on their "garnishing". The same is the case with women. But women have always been influenced by their mothers, imitating them and following their path towards femininity: from a caterpillar to a butterfly. So it is not that weird. Now a days the guys try their best to become gorgeous so that the girls hover over them like bees on honey. True, right? :p
Now whom are they following? Well, the media has always been the most effective institution of all, which not only targets the general public for commercialization, but also has an effect on their entire lifestyles! The fairy tales, with extremely charming prince getting the most beautiful princess, the movies with "munda kukarr kamal da" and the celebrities becoming more "pyara" day by day... In the world of glamor, rough has been replaced by sober and polished, that is, earlier, the boys' most favorite get up used to be Radhay Mohan type, but now everyone wants to look like Henry Cavil. Both girls and guys instruct the hair dressers at the salons as to which celebrity's hair-style or hair cut do they want.
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Beautification has turned out to be a transitional stage from traditional masculinity to contemporary gender stratification. Today metrosexuality is gaining greater fame among men. Many of them, not making a sensible choice in their fashion sense, are often questioned of their sexual orientation too. In Japan, a term "Bishonen" is quite often used for the feminine beauty of men, and is widely approved of. I think that men can still look adorable and stylish if they know how to carry themselves, without following women's path of beautification (obviously it is entirely their choice if they STILL want to do so.) This is also a notable fact that today, in many weddings, the grooms reach later than their brides (especially in South Asia), because they were getting ready at the parlor!
When boys are advised to be more manly and to avoid a little too much of this girlish stuff, they answer like this, "Larkiyan bhi to itna kuch karti hain, hum ne kar lia to kya ho gaya"! (Men say women tend to be more beauty conscious and spend lavishly in the effort of becoming a beaut. So what's wrong if we do so?) And when asked, most of the boys in the audience (at the show) said they'd prefer a "simple" lady. But then my question is, why don't such men go for a uni-browed, with hair tightly bunned and dressed in a light-colored plain, loose-fit lawn suit, when it comes to getting married?? Why are such girls then rejected on the basis of appearance and all their talents and abilities are ignored? If they are such strong supporters of simplicity, then why they start drooling when they see a well-dressed, pretty and stylish girl? Why do they throw their "number-chits" at such girls and why do they try to impress them? Well, the guys know the answer very well, even if they don't admit the reality.
The thing is, the beauty industry is in the hands of males, and for centuries, the main targets have been females. But for quite some time, the trends have trickled from women towards men, with newer brands of men's cosmetics, outfits, shoes, accessories,drugs and everything enhancing their beauty, you name it!
Concluding this piece, I'd say, beauty consciousness is not to be ashamed of. It should be focussed on, and everyone should try to maintain a presentable persona according to what suits them; this is their birthright. It's a never-ending debate that who is MORE BEAUTY CONSCIOUS today... because everyone has got an exclusive aesthetic sense, and they want to follow it. Still, just keep this in mind,
For guys: "Girls want men, not more girl-friends!"
"....makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.."
But Plato said something different,
"Every man wishes to be healthy, rich and beautiful!"
Beauty is the satisfaction of soul. It is anything that gives pleasure and is soothing for the eye. We may classify beauty as outer and inner one, while being "beautiful" means to have a balanced combination of both.
But Plato said something different,
"Every man wishes to be healthy, rich and beautiful!"
Beauty is the satisfaction of soul. It is anything that gives pleasure and is soothing for the eye. We may classify beauty as outer and inner one, while being "beautiful" means to have a balanced combination of both.
The concept of beautification is quite prehistoric, where we find ornaments, chemicals and multitude of dresses in the excavated ruins of thousands of years old buried cities. Islam preaches its followers to be clean and tidy, be well-dressed, to wear fragrances and to comb the hair and beard (if present) properly. It became more popular with the advent of French Revolution and renaissance, where people began to worry more of how to portray and maintain "elegance" and "belle". It can be seen from the pictures and art work, architecture and inventions, that how symmetry, regularity and beauty was sought in every aspect and field.
Today (13th of September, 2013) I participated in a popular talk show at Dunya TV where I was one of the speakers at the discussion panel. The theme was " Of the two genders, which is more beauty conscious?".
Firstly, we all are aware of the fact that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Something may look beautiful to one person, but may not appeal others; or vice versa. Recently I came across a sociological study results about difference in perception of beauty, conducted in Washington DC. The main actor was Joshua Bell, one of the most famous violinists of the world. People spend thousand of dollars to buy a ticket to watch his show. And when he was playing the violin at a metro station of DC, in pretty shaggy clothes, nobody bothered. No one even recognized him. This shows how people perceive "beautiful" and "attractive" in routine life. Similarly, each person has a different perception of perfection, and thus, each follows their own way to attain it.
When it comes to being adorable, I think, every person is born beautiful as God has created everyone out of His very best skills. So natural beauty is always there. But then, there comes a time, when that naturalism has to be polished, groomed and made presentable. That is the beginning of the phase of self-embellishment. This earns a great deal to the cosmetics, dresses, shoes, healthcare products, medicine, drugs and so on. An approximated expenditure on the beauty industry by 2014 is to be $24 billion!
When it comes to being adorable, I think, every person is born beautiful as God has created everyone out of His very best skills. So natural beauty is always there. But then, there comes a time, when that naturalism has to be polished, groomed and made presentable. That is the beginning of the phase of self-embellishment. This earns a great deal to the cosmetics, dresses, shoes, healthcare products, medicine, drugs and so on. An approximated expenditure on the beauty industry by 2014 is to be $24 billion!
We all are aware of the NEED of beautification in today's world. Psychiatrist Eva Ritvo states that , "Skin conditions have a profound influence on opportunity and social behavior." This clearly shows how significant it is to appear attractive!
But now starts the debate...
Should men try to BEAUTIFY themselves like the girls???
The question is quite tricky, and the answer may vary from person to person. So let's put the question the other way, should men try to imitate women in the process of adorning themselves?
When I was asked this question, I thought for a moment, and this point flashed in my mind: Beauty gives internal satisfaction and pleasure, and every person has the right to be happy. So they have a right to embellish themselves. But the problem our society is facing today is, "feminization of culture". The men are trying SO HARD to look "beautiful" rather "handsome", that they've even begun to give a tougher competition to the softer sex. They, in the phase of looking like an "ideally beautiful guy", have left behind many aspects of masculinity.
Now another feature we will focus upon is masculinity, maleness or the characteristics that distinguish a person from females. This term is a cultural construct. It is defined by the various cultural norms, values and mores. Moreover, the social institutions have an influence on the genders and their roles/ features.There was a time when men were appreciated for being "rough n' tough". It was good to be tall, dark and well-built. But today we see more of the pretty, cheeky faces of the girlish boys who're afraid of playing outside because they'd lose their fair complexion; and yet those who go for all sorts of fairness creams to look "fair n' lovely". Now men are also thronging into parlors, getting all the services that women get for their appearance grooming..jpg)
The factors of having such strong aesthetic sense and urge to look good include status consciousness, competition among same gender colleagues and development of relationships. The problem of class difference, social stratification and the urge to be equal or look similar to those of the more privileged class has indulged men in spending extravagantly on their "garnishing". The same is the case with women. But women have always been influenced by their mothers, imitating them and following their path towards femininity: from a caterpillar to a butterfly. So it is not that weird. Now a days the guys try their best to become gorgeous so that the girls hover over them like bees on honey. True, right? :p
Now whom are they following? Well, the media has always been the most effective institution of all, which not only targets the general public for commercialization, but also has an effect on their entire lifestyles! The fairy tales, with extremely charming prince getting the most beautiful princess, the movies with "munda kukarr kamal da" and the celebrities becoming more "pyara" day by day... In the world of glamor, rough has been replaced by sober and polished, that is, earlier, the boys' most favorite get up used to be Radhay Mohan type, but now everyone wants to look like Henry Cavil. Both girls and guys instruct the hair dressers at the salons as to which celebrity's hair-style or hair cut do they want.
And the most affected group is the middle class. They, being educated yet lacking the opportunities, are more concerned with impression building and management, being able to grasp the best chances and to be confident enough to face the people superior to them. They have to cover or overcome their complexes, mostly of inferiority, and find peace in looking adorable and being "stared at" or "poondied" by the opposite gender. We Asians have a problem of Eurocentrism. We want to look fair like the westerners. And they, on the other hand, tan their bodies to look relatively darker.
.jpg)
Beautification has turned out to be a transitional stage from traditional masculinity to contemporary gender stratification. Today metrosexuality is gaining greater fame among men. Many of them, not making a sensible choice in their fashion sense, are often questioned of their sexual orientation too. In Japan, a term "Bishonen" is quite often used for the feminine beauty of men, and is widely approved of. I think that men can still look adorable and stylish if they know how to carry themselves, without following women's path of beautification (obviously it is entirely their choice if they STILL want to do so.) This is also a notable fact that today, in many weddings, the grooms reach later than their brides (especially in South Asia), because they were getting ready at the parlor!
Concluding this piece, I'd say, beauty consciousness is not to be ashamed of. It should be focussed on, and everyone should try to maintain a presentable persona according to what suits them; this is their birthright. It's a never-ending debate that who is MORE BEAUTY CONSCIOUS today... because everyone has got an exclusive aesthetic sense, and they want to follow it. Still, just keep this in mind,For guys: "Girls want men, not more girl-friends!"
For girls: "Diana bano, lekin daain nahi!"
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