Are Men or Women More Concerned with Appearances?

[Sunstone]

Can it be said that one sex is generally more concerned with people's appearances than the other sex? If so, in what way(s) is that sex more concerned with people's appearances?

For instance: I've heard it said that women in general are more concerned than men with how a person's appearance -- especially their choice in clothing -- reflects their intelligence, taste, and personality. But that men in general are more concerned than women with how a person's appearance appeals to them sexually. Is there any truth to either of those claims?

 

[Scuba Pete]

It's hard to pigeon hole one sex over the other. I tried to Google to see how much men spend compared to women, but I was stymied. My feeling is that women spend a lot more for fashion and make up while men spend more on function. That's a stereotype that I am willing to see exploded. I like my women in neoprene with snot in their masks.

 

[bobhikes]

Hands down women. My wife constantly has to approve what I and my kids wear. My mother as well also gives suggestions. My sister only ocassionally. I have never had a brother father or male friend tell me I need to change my (shirt, shoes, pants, belt ... etc).

I am not allowed to shave my mustace as I apparently look bad without it.
I have to cut my hair monthly or get constant complaints
I can't change my hair style or go to a different salon without her approval.


I don't really mind any of it but if left to myself I would not only make changes when necessary (like holes in the clothing, hair so long its bothering me, no space to put a new nail hole in the belt...etc)

 

[painted wolf]

I'd say it's pretty equal. The list of beauty products and procedures for men is just as extensive as it is for women and it's a rapidly growing product line.

Men get plastic surgery in increasing numbers, they are just as prone to women to divide themselves into peer groups that identify themselves via fashion.

Looking back through history you can see that men are just as keen on primping as women, especially when it's also a tied to displays of power.

wa:do

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I'd say it's pretty equal. The list of beauty products and procedures for men is just as extensive as it is for women and it's a rapidly growing product line.

Men get plastic surgery in increasing numbers, they are just as prone to women to divide themselves into peer groups that identify themselves via fashion.

Looking back through history you can see that men are just as keen on primping as women, especially when it's also a tied to displays of power.

wa:do

I was thinking the same thing. The teen boys sometimes will take as long if not longer to primp as myself and my daughter take.

 

[Me Myself]

I think it is balancing up.

 

[LongGe123]

It's only possible to be pretty general about this, since it's hard to define when one gets "concerned about" something to what degree. Having said that, I'd proffer the opinion that unfortunately women are more concerned with what they look like, and that it is societies fault for pressuring them too much by setting ridiculous and impossible "standards" of beauty. There's a hilarous cartoon, if you have google you could google it (i'm in china so google doesn't work well here). It's a fat man looking in the mirror, and he sees himself as an adonis. There is also a slim and beautiful woman looking into the mirror, but she sees a bit fat woman in the mirror. I think this typifies the attitudes taken by many.

On the whole, there is much less pressure on men to look awesome, even after being fashionable and stylish became a straight thing (thanks to people like David Beckham). It seems to me that many men rely on other factors such as wealth and power to attract people, and don't need to give a haypenny-jizz about how they look. This of course is a sad state of affairs.

But it's not absolute, as with pretty much anything else. I myself am VERY conscious about my appearance. Not so much with fashion, but with my weight and body shape. I was always overweight when I was a kid, then lost about 85 pounds in 6 months when I moved to China. I felt unbelievable - sexy girls would look at me and want to talk to me (kind of meaningless really since I'm gay, but...), and I generally just felt fantastic. After that I started to gain weight again, and now I'm almost back to my original weight. Now, I get rejected by handsome guys I like, and my friends always comment on my weight, and it makes me feel so bad about myself.

So there are always gonna be exceptions (like me, for example), but I feel women are generally more concerned about appearance, because frankly society sends that message to them.

 

[Madhuri]

I really don't know for sure but my guess is that something like appearance is largely cultural. These days a very high rate of men in my society take the same amount of time as me getting ready and feeling very particular about their appearance. Also, men were the first to wear high heals. Ha.

 

[Kerr]

Can it be said that one sex is generally more concerned with people's appearances than the other sex? If so, in what way(s) is that sex more concerned with people's appearances?

For instance: I've heard it said that women in general are more concerned than men with how a person's appearance -- especially their choice in clothing -- reflects their intelligence, taste, and personality. But that men in general are more concerned than women with how a person's appearance appeals to them sexually. Is there any truth to either of those claims?

The stereotype where I live is that women care more about how they look then men. But I have noticed men seems to become more concerned and I dont get out enough to tell how accurate the stereotype is (I am a little anti-social). In any case I think its more of a cultural thing then a sex thing, and I personally wish people in general would worry less about their appearance .

 

[Willamena]

Both men and women are more concerned with the appearance of women.

 

[painted wolf]

And both men and women are concerned about the appearance of men... otherwise male models wouldn't exist.

wa:do

 

[Falvlun]

I think it is balancing up.

This was my initial reaction to the thread title too, at least in current day America.

Both men and women are more concerned with the appearance of women.

Holy cow! I think that's spot on.

Can it be said that one sex is generally more concerned with people's appearances than the other sex? If so, in what way(s) is that sex more concerned with people's appearances?

I think women have more pressure to dress in flattering, un-functional clothes, spend the time on hair and makeup. As Willamena stated, this pressure originates both from women and men.

And as Me Myself stated, it is starting to even up; however, just by the nature of the beast, females still have more to worry about. Hair tends to be longer and more elaborate (men, if they do anything, just need to put in a bit of gel and poof! their hair is done), dress-codes are more obtuse (should I wear a dress or can I wear pants?), and unless you are an emo kid, boys aren't wearing make-up (well... neither do I but it is certainly less socially acceptable.)

Also note that I think this is a fashion and cultural based phenomenon; I don't think it's likely an innate feature.

For instance: I've heard it said that women in general are more concerned than men with how a person's appearance -- especially their choice in clothing -- reflects their intelligence, taste, and personality. But that men in general are more concerned than women with how a person's appearance appeals to them sexually. Is there any truth to either of those claims?

I think it's both sexual-attraction-based, but women just are more articulate about how they express it.

 

[Falvlun]

And both men and women are concerned about the appearance of men... otherwise male models wouldn't exist.

wa:do

Of course there's interest in the appearance of men. It's the degree of interest that is different, as well as the cultural pressures placed on each.

 

[painted wolf]

Of course there's interest in the appearance of men. It's the degree of interest that is different, as well as the cultural pressures placed on each.

I'm not sure... from metrosexuals to guidos to emo kids to bodybuilders... males have a staggering array of cultural messages being sent to them about how to look.

Thus, the rapidly growing use of make up (not just in emo kids), body dismorphic disorders (such as bigorexia) and plastic surgery in males.

And like in women, this is being pushed mostly by industries that sell products and have discovered males to be a previously unsaturated market.

Women also see these images and like men, come to internalize what a "man" is supposed to look like. And that is groomed, coiffed, scented and done up in various manners that are just as time consuming and expensive as the women.

wa:do

 

[beenie]

Both men and women are more concerned with the appearance of women.

/thread

 

[dust1n]

Let me just crush the numbers...


EDIT: Results inconclusive!

 

[Falvlun]

I'm not sure... from metrosexuals to guidos to emo kids to bodybuilders... males have a staggering array of cultural messages being sent to them about how to look.

Thus, the rapidly growing use of make up (not just in emo kids), body dismorphic disorders (such as bigorexia) and plastic surgery in males.

And like in women, this is being pushed mostly by industries that sell products and have discovered males to be a previously unsaturated market.

Women also see these images and like men, come to internalize what a "man" is supposed to look like. And that is groomed, coiffed, scented and done up in various manners that are just as time consuming and expensive as the women.

wa:do

I agree that men are catching up, but the social norm is still nowhere near the requirements placed on women. Maybe when men start having to shave their legs, or they must wear walking-inhibiting things like heels in order to be considered fancy, I'll say we're even. Right now, makeup and such is optional for men, whereas it's almost a social must for women.

 

[painted wolf]

I agree that men are catching up, but the social norm is still nowhere near the requirements placed on women. Maybe when men start having to shave their legs, or they must wear walking-inhibiting things like heels in order to be considered fancy, I'll say we're even. Right now, makeup and such is optional for men, whereas it's almost a social must for women.

True... at least in this culture. But if you look at men and women across all cultures and times, you see a fair amount of parity. There isn't a genetic predisposition to preening that separates the sexes.

Men of the Wodaabe culture are a great example of the inverse.

wa:do

 

[Falvlun]

True... at least in this culture. But if you look at men and women across all cultures and times, you see a fair amount of parity. There isn't a genetic predisposition to preening that separates the sexes.

Men of the Wodaabe culture are a great example of the inverse.

wa:do

Yup, I agree with that. I don't think it's a intrinsic thing to the genders, but a cultural one.

 

[Marble]

Women.
Because women are judged by their appearence.