James Brown
The modern day man is master of the steam iron…but he’s not so hot under the bonnet
Man-bags and moisturisers are redefining modern-day masculinity, 60% of modern day men proudly claim to be masters of the steam iron but only 10% consider themselves to be handy under the bonnet of a car. All this is a far cry from the men in the 1920s and 1940s, 73% of whom considered themselves car-savvy. Only a quarter knew how to turn the iron on though!
‘The Brylcreem Mandom Report 2008’ shows the 21st Century man is somewhat self-obsessed spending an average 26% longer in front of the mirror than men in the 1940s. Men are also currently much more in touch with their emotional side with 85% claiming they wouldn’t be ashamed to cry in front of others. In the 1920s however, 40% of men said they would be ashamed to cry in front of others.
The report interviewed men from 18 to over 80 and clearly shows a great shift in both male attitudes and behaviour. With over 61% of those under 29 admitting they don’t consider themselves masculine today, it’s clear we’ve reached a ball-breaking time. Domestic and public boundaries have blurred over the decades, causing confusion over where the masculine line is now drawn.
Women want their men back, complaining that men have stepped a bit too far in the feminine direction. 60% of women aged between 18 and 29 say they would like the man to take control of their relationship. Two-thirds also say modern men aren’t as masculine as men from years gone by.
Founding Editor of Loaded Magazine James Brown comments: "Masculinity is best defined by a focus on competitiveness, strength and rationality, yet The Brylcreem Mandom Report 2008 indicates that modern men have become far more openly emotional, are more focused on image and appearance, and are increasingly taking on notions more often associated with women."