akujunkan | Beauty Norms

Japan is still a sexist society, but in some areas, gender relations are actually more equal than they are in America. Take, for instance, personal appearance.

I was watching the 6 o'clock news last night, during which they did a fifteen minute segment on men's fashion. Japanese men tweeze their eyebrows. A good number of them shave their legs and their armpits. Quite a few of them wear foundation. These men are professionals, salary men in their mid-twenties, thirties, and up. Younger men often add eyeliner, shadow, and nailpolish to the above repetoire.

I happen to find Japanese men extremely sexy. Next to Swedes, this country's menfolk are the sexiest people on earth. I like that Japanese society puts emphasis on men looking attractive. I used to think this was a bit of a contradiction for a Gender Studies major, but now I'm not so sure. After all, Japanese men undertake the same beauty routine (hair removal, cosmetics, smart dressing) as do women, which means that in this area at least, Japanese society is a whole lot more gender-equal than Western society, where women are expected to go through the whole cosmetics rigamorole to please men, who should ideally be fit and clean, but aren't expected to do much beyond that. (Well, okay there is the beefy muscle-man gym ideal, but I personally find bulky guys extreeeeeemly unattractive. Give me toned and svelte over that, any day. (And also, a guy who ways 100lbs more than I do sure puts me at a disadvantage.))

Which isn't to say that Japanese society is pefect in this regard. I have yet to see a Japanese guy with his ankles blown out from walking on 4 inch stilletoes every day. But I really do appreciate that Japanese men are expected to put some work into their appearance. It's nice.

That will be all.