My Ideal Man; Muscles, Money or Both?

    In the very traditional African setting of ours strength is shown in several way. every woman wants that man that has that “voltron” quality. The mere idea that a man can fight for me physically and other wise sure make the toes curl. but there are women who don’t mind men who are whinny wimps as long as they can pay for all the damages without batting an eyelid. Others women are of the opinion that love conquers strength and money. Think of it though, would you prefer a heavily built man with strong muscles, a financially strong man or someone who can be easily compatible with you? Before you make your choice of partner, decide whether you are a modern day feminist or someone who will continue to follow the traditional values of masculinity in Africa.

A new research claims that the image of a white, wealthy and muscular male still retains as an object of desire among many women. The study, published in the journal Feminist Media Studies, derived that people still desire the traditional masculine values of muscles and money in the men they find attractive and have not moved on from long-established gender roles. “They are marking the middle-class, wealthy, mobile and sexually powerful male body, not as a political one as feminists intend it to be, but one that should be actively desired. This celebration of masculine capital is achieved through humor and the knowing wink, but the outcome is a reaffirmation of men’s position in society,” said Adrienne Evans, researcher at the Coventry University in England. “It’s a problem as because although it appears as though we have moved forward, our desires are still mostly about money and strength,” Evans added.

The researchers used the responses provided by the onlookers over various images of men posted on Tube Crush website, where commuters upload photographs, taken of attractive men, over a period. The photographs emphasized on the body parts which suggest physical strength and sexual prowess that is; men’s muscular biceps, pecs and chest; along with many symbols of disposable income and wealth, such as smart suits, watches and phones. The results show a form of reversal of gender roles that could be understood as a powerful act in a society where men have historically held ownership over women’s bodies. You would be surprised to know what the vice versa is.