Metrosexual

A:Have you noticed, men these days are becoming more and more interested in how they look? Some of my male friends and co-workers use moisturizers and makeup every day, some even wear jewelry! Every time I come near them I get a whiff of their cologne.
B:I know what you mean! Men in today’s society are definitely starting to care more and more about their own image. Some men spend as much time and money on their appearance as most women do—a few even go to beauty salons and get plastic surgery. I’ve heard that now, one out of every ten people who get plastic surgery is male.
A:It’s an interesting phenomenon. Traditionally, women are the ones who are supposed to care most about beauty, but people’s values are changing these days, especially in the big cities. A few years earlier, if a man showed he cared about his appearance or clothes, he would be told he was being too feminine, or acting like a girl. But now, plenty of men would willingly describe themselves as “metrosexual”—it doesn’t have a negative connotation.
B:I think this has a lot to do with mass media. Many celebrities, especially in the movie industry, are so-called “pretty boys.” They are admired and idolized by the public, and many young men want to imitate their clothes and fashions, which is one of the reasons for the “pretty boy” phenomenon in society at large. In reality, whether or not you’re a celebrity, a well-groomed appearance can raise your self-confidence and help you make a good impression on other people.
A:True! I think another reason that men are paying more attention to their appearance is that they’ve realized that women are paying attention to men’s appearance! A man who makes an effort to look his best is more likely to win the approval of the opposite gender. Also, many women appreciate a man who doesn’t roll his eyes as soon as she mentions anything having to do with fashion.
B:Yeah, I think it’s related to the fact that the position of women in society is continuously rising, and they are becoming more and more particular when it comes to choosing a partner. Women have always been more interested in men who are physically handsome in addition to being responsible and economically secure, but now that women can be more selective, men have to work harder to prove themselves the ideal partner. Men are realizing that it pays to be considerate, attentive and well-dressed.
A:So whereas before, women dressed up in order to attract men, nowadays men are also dressing up to attract women. Men and women really are becoming more and more equal in society!

都市美男

A：你有没有发现，现在社会上的男人越来越爱美了？我身边的一些男性朋友和同事，每天都使用护肤品和化妆品，有的还佩戴饰品！每次走近他们，我就能闻到男士香水的味道。
B：是啊！现代社会的男人的确越来越在意自己的形象了，一些男人在修饰外表上花费的时间和金钱跟大多数女人一样，有的男人甚至进美容院去整容。据说，现在十名整容者中就有一名是男性。
A：我觉得这个现象很有意思。传统观念认为，女性是最爱美的，但是现在，人们的观念发生了很大的变化，尤其是在大城市。几年前，如果一个男人对自己的衣着和外表太过在意，会被旁人耻笑为“女人气”或者“娘娘腔”。但是现在，很多男人都愿意把自己说成“都市美男”，这个词完全没有负面含意了。
B：我觉得，这和大众传媒的发达有很大的关系。很多明星，尤其是在演艺界，被叫作“花样美男”。他们被大众崇拜和偶像化，很多年轻的男孩子都想模仿他们的穿衣打扮，这是“美男”现象在社会上流行的一个原因。实际上，不管你是不是明星，光鲜靓丽的外表都能提升自己的信心，给人以良好的印象。
A：对！我觉得男人更注重外表的另一个原因就是他们认识到了女人也很注重男人的外表！一个精心打扮后的男人更容易得到异性的认可。还有，很多女人都很欣赏那些可以和他们聊一聊时尚话题的男性。
B：嗯，我觉得这和现在女性社会地位的上升也有关，她们在对象的选择上越来越挑剔，女人总是对那些长得很帅又有责任感而且有经济实力的男人更有兴趣。既然女人更挑剔了，男人们就得更努力去证明自己是理想的伴侣。男人们也认识到体贴、细心和精心打扮会有好处。
A：这么说，以前是女人为了吸引男人而打扮自己。现在男人也为了吸引女人而打扮。男人和女人的社会地位越来越平等了！