Stereotypical gender roles are no longer here to stay. Gone are the days when men were the destined hunters or bread earners, while girls were expected to cook, clean and wait patiently for rishtas to come their way. With women becoming more independent and men venturing into careers like fashion designing and journalism (instead of the ‘standard’, ‘serious’ careers like engineering or medicine), the roles seem to be changing.
The change is interesting as the yin and yang appear to be merging, and what better testament to this than the trend that men are getting closer to their ‘feminine side’.
Spa time
Facials, massages and mani-pedis are not just for the ladies. After an exhausting day at work, today’s man is happy to unwind at the salon. “I like going to the salon every other day to get a back massage and every second week for a haircut,” says 26-year-old banker Sameer, adding that his girlfriend makes fun of him for going to the salon more than she does. He isn’t embarrassed by the notion; he admits the feeling is therapeutic and likes to take care of himself.
Men’s salons have taken the streets by storm; Clippers, Pzazz and The Barber Shop have growing clientele consisting of students as well as working men. Men have become more aware of their image and salon services are rather reasonable too — this has triggered the development of men’s salons. With haircuts costing Rs200 to 500 and facials Rs1,000 to Rs3,000, men have no reason to not opt for these services which seem to have now become necessities.
There was a time when salons and parlours were for a specific kind of species; the metro-sexual or the narcissistic man. But now, they cater to men who genuinely want to take care of themselves. Some salons offer special wedding packages for men too, so they can look great on their special day.
Drama mamas
There was a time when watching sports and action movies/shows was what men were all about. Times have changed and dramas such as Humsafar clearly prove it. It wasn’t just the girls who were swooning all over the smoking hot Fawad Khan — guys were also drooling over the leading ladies Naveen Waqar and Mahira Khan. Cheesy, romantic and emotional plots seem to be encouraging men to give their partners cheeky names, too — something they were probably embarrassed to do before (not in public yet though — maybe a couple of more years and we’ll get to see that too!).
Men no longer just fall in the ‘hard core rock fans who publicly condemn mainstream pop’ category anymore. A scroll through your guy friend’s iPod will show you some catchy Taylor Swift and Rihanna tracks.
Fashion fans
Like women, men also look forward to keeping themselves updated with the latest fashion trends; you will find men wearing branded clothing, skinny jeans and sunglasses too big for their face, just like the ladies. The accessories/clothes may be originals, first copies or fakes, but men are becoming as fashion forward and conscious as women; women are seen sporting fake Louis Vuitton and Gucci bags, while men are seen wearing first copies of Hermes and Ferregamo belts.
“Wearing branded belts has become a fashion statement, and for me, it’s an ego boost,” says 19-year-old student Bilal, adding that it’s the perfect accessory with slim-fit shirts and skinny jeans and gives the perfect semi-formal look which is required for parties. Bilal admits he’s been made fun of for using such specific fashion jargon to describe his style but the truth is, he says, “All boys my age have a thing for carrying at least one branded item, whether it’s a belt, wallet or a phone.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2013.
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