Commentary: What’s with the spate of half-naked men these days?
SINGAPORE: It seems like Singapore is having a Magic Mike moment with buff, shirtless men making the news in recent weeks.
On Thursday (Apr 29), a photograph of model Chuando Tan's sculpted trunk fabricated information technology to the cover of the country'southward national broadsheet, ostensibly to herald his start film role where he bares all in the movie.
And when American manner brand Abercrombie and Fitch announced ii weeks agone that it would be closing its Orchard Road store, the first thing most of us probably remember almost the characterization was its somewhat controversial decision to hire male sales associates or "models" to stand around the store without their shirts when it starting time opened here.
Then, there's the Hunky Man Cleaning Service marketing photographs that take fabricated the rounds on the Cyberspace.
The series of images characteristic a group of muscular men wearing only jeans as they clean and exercise heavy lifting, while a woman (fully clothed in a dress) looks on admiringly.
SEXISM AND DOUBLE STANDARDS
All of this reeks of a weird sexist double standard that is rather disconcerting.
We clearly know what the reaction would exist if a cleaning agency advertised the services of female housekeepers dressed in the bare minimum. Or if lingerie store Victoria's Secret began hiring sales associates and mandated they report to piece of work wearing only push-up bras.
There would invariably be a loud reaction decrying the objectification and exploitation of women.
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On the flipside, there is a certain glee among the public in witnessing this parade of nigh naked men.
Mr Tan's film debut is not exactly page one breaking news because Google will tell you lot there have been more than a handful of stories about this much vaunted office and his abs over the by year.
Not surprisingly, each fourth dimension in that location is an article about the same one-time topic, you can bet there will too be at least one gratuitous topless photograph of the man, if not more than.
In fact did you know that Abercrombie & Fitch's exercise of populating its shop with unclothed men was discontinued in 2015? Notwithstanding, information technology besides appears that the attending and the hordes of shoppers standing in line to enter the store also dwindled when the topless models had to put their shirts back on.
It makes one wonder if people were there to purchase the make's tank tops or to gawk at a public spectacle. Worse, it raises questions almost the brand's somewhat successful however problematic marketing tactics.
Equally for the shirtless man cleaning service, in the weeks since information technology was starting time rolled out equally a publicity stunt, the company says it has received over 70 enquiries by people looking to hire these men. And a quick scroll through its social media posts will reveal a significant amount of "thirsty" comments objectifying the male cleaners.
Why is it that people seem perfectly fine when off-colour comments are directed towards men or if men are the ones shedding their clothes?
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It'S Not COMPLICATED
A recent Instagram post by women's advocacy group AWARE attempts to give some context past pointing out the historical power imbalance betwixt the genders.
While the group recognises that men too endure from torso dysmorphia due to unrealistic media portrayals of the male body, information technology points out that men typically accept not been sexually exploited to the scale that women accept. Neither are they at a disadvantage at the workplace because of their appearance.
The implication is that there can be different standards of acceptability when it comes to objectifying men in comparing to women.
Only this line of reasoning does not sit that well in the context of this recent spate of bold-faced torso baring. Surely, it is regressive in the fight for gender equality, which should cut both ways, to say information technology is somehow less offensive to objectify men since they accept less historical baggage?
If annihilation, women, the group which has traditionally suffered the consequences of objectification, can now beget to practice a little more than empathy and clarity of idea on why such behaviours should be chosen out when the tables are turned.
Peradventure it gets clearer such objectification is misguided when we consider the possibility men may view disrobing through a different lens. It is more culturally acceptable for men to evidence off a toned, taut body as a sign of power.
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So for the men who choose to bare peel for commercial reasons or attention, they are more likely to be viewed with admiration than with censure.
This then is the other societal double standard nosotros accept to be aware of - men are glorified for shedding wearing apparel while women are slut-shamed for doing the same.
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Time TO Change THINGS
It is time to change perceptions, starting by sending the bulletin that such Neanderthal, breast-thumping behaviour has not been acceptable since the Rock Age.
In the case of the male house cleaning stunt, I was amused to notice at that place were a few germaphobes like myself who were by and large concerned virtually potentially hiring cleaners only to take them drip sweat all over the apartment because they are non properly attired for the job.
Yes, I would pay for the muscle to help me move heavy furniture simply please guys, keep your shirts on and your sweat stains to yourself.
At the end of the day, such examples of sexualised marketing might notwithstanding surface every at present and then because there is some societal demand, and wanting to eliminate them altogether might be naïve thinking.
Information technology is exactly this fact that serves to remind united states information technology is how nosotros as individuals - and past extension a society - reacts that reveals our true characters.
Our responses exercise shape national norms on gender relations. We each take a responsibility to uphold standards of acceptable behaviour and accost this unsettling design to nip it in the bud.
It is also timely to speak upwards now when the Singapore Regime is putting together a comprehensive review of women'southward issues. At that place is no doubt we all desire to stalk the troubling, deeper issues that undergird the ascent in sexual assault cases and the continued sexual objectification of women.
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A proficient starting indicate could be to tackle the problem with sexually objectifying people – regardless of gender.
Why non begin to have infant steps by having an open, honest simply difficult conversation about gender, sexism and the double standards nosotros seem to agree and what we can larn from these contempo episodes?
And for now, Singapore, can we delight hold off on the mass publicising of half-naked male person midriff-baring photographs? It's merely a little much.
Karen is a freelance lifestyle, travel journalist and a graduate of Columbia University'southward Schoolhouse of Journalism in New York Urban center.
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