Introduction
The articles “The First Year of the Chinese Metrosexual” by Edward McDonald and “Consumption, Class Formation and Sexuality: Reading Men’s Lifestyle Magazines in China” by Geng Song and Tracy Lee discuss the matters related to the phenomenon of “metrosexualism” and its interpretation in China. Evaluating the main findings of the articles under consideration, it appears that the new concept of masculinity in China based on a global idea of “metrosexualism” has significant differences; in particular, it is subjected to homosexual trends and way of thinking in a greater degree.
Main body
In his article, Edward McDonald discusses the innovation by the three main magazines in China dedicated to men’s lifestyle made in 2004. The editors of these magazines – Men’s Health, MENBOX, and Men’s Style – developed a new concept of masculinity based on the idea of “metrosexualism” spread all over the world in 2003. The concept was developed under the influence of women-made cult of beauty gained by means of constant efforts including endless practices in gyms, regular visits to beauty saloons, and the help from specialists in plastic surgery along with the influence of gay fashions. The most remarkable about the concept of “metrosexualism” both in China and in the world is the fact that it is intruded to men with all types of sexual orientation including straight men, bisexual, and gays. However, Chinese vision of “metrosexualism” developed by the three magazines and actively “preached” among Chinese men has one significant feature which makes it different form the concepts of “metrosexualism” spread in the other countries. Chinese “metrosexualism” is defined as a culture aimed to be spread mainly among homosexual Chinese men. This peculiarity of Chinese “metrosexualism” is even seen in the linguistic side of this matter. According to McDonald (2012, p. 11),
The strongly homosexual connotations of the original Chinese rendering of ‘metrosexual’ as ‘metropolitan jade male’ (dūshi yunan) are in fact a more accurate guide to how this label has been applied in the Chinese context than its suggested alternatives which reference a more socially acceptable heterosexuality.
Thus, McDonald’s article shows Chinese “metrosexuality” as the concept mainly spread among homosexual men.
The main findings of the article by Geng Song and Tracy Lee are in establishing connection between the concepts of masculinity in China and social status of men. The authors prove that modern-day progress in China made it possible to form a new social layer of middle class. The members of this social layer are more subjected to global trends. This feature of middle class layer caused the formation of a new concept of masculinity shown in Chinese magazines for men from middle class society (Song & Lee, 2010). The concept is based on the idea of “metrosexuality”, and it tends to form the ideas similar to homosexual way of thinking among middle class Chinese men.
Reflecting on the findings of the articles, it appears that Chinese society is subjected to the ideas of homosexuality more than ever before due to its integration to the world’s community where “metrosexuality” is popular. Such integration is explained by economical progress made by China. As a result, Chinese people known for its traditionally high moral standards become corrupted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the articles “The First Year of the Chinese Metrosexual” by Edward McDonald and “Consumption, Class Formation and Sexuality: Reading Men’s Lifestyle Magazines in China” by Geng Song and Tracy Lee evaluate new tendencies in understanding the concepts of masculinity in Chinese society. The authors of the articles offer a number of proofs that under the influence of economical development and global integration, Chinese concept of masculinity changes in a remarkable way.
References
McDonald, E 2012, ‘The First Year of the Chinese Metrosexual’, Journal of Peking University, Philosophy & Social Sciences, pp. 1-12.
Song, G & Lee, T 2010, ‘CONSUMPTION, CLASS FORMATION AND SEXUALITY: READING MEN’S LIFESTYLE MAGAZINES IN CHINA’, THE CHINA JOURNAL, no. 64, pp. 159-177.