Paraphrase of Alexa Hackbarth's “vanity, Thy Name Is Metrosexual”

Paraphrase of Alexa Hackbarth’s: “Vanity, Thy Name Is Metrosexual”

In “Vanity, Thy Name Is Metrosexual,” freelance writer Alexa Hackbarth explains that she had recently moved to Washington, a city different from any other she lived in before, a sanctuary for the metrosexual. A metrosexual is best described as a straight man that is fashion savvy, concerned with personal appearance, and is emotionally secure. Metrosexual men are similar to the clichй of being gay, but are in fact heterosexual.

As an example, Hackbarth explains that even gay men have a difficult time distinguishing between homosexuals and heterosexuals. However, the modern metrosexual is more likely to take any comments from a gay man as a compliment rather than take offense from the approach, which shows that metrosexuals are more tolerant of others.

Hackbarth’s main concern is that women are also having a complicated time differentiating a man’s sexual orientation. She explains that maybe some women want a guy who can shop for coordinating accessories, and can gossip about the latest celebrity tabloids. She is concerned that Washington seems to have too many of this type of man, and not enough of the hard working type.

Growing up in a little country town, Hackbarth explains that men are up and working before ever sitting down to a hearty breakfast. These are a completely contrasting breed of men, than she can find in Washington. These countrymen are handy with home repairs, can cook a basic meal, and are not concerned with their personal appearance.

From the differing country life Hackbarth had, her new city life has a large population of metrosexuals. This is because it allows the metrosexuals to be within easy access to a city and its amenities, since designer labels and boutiques that cater to them are more abundant. This confuses Hackbarth since Washington is a city full of people from all over the United States, both urban and rural. Besides just what a city has to offer, there would have to be another reason metrosexuals would move to a city. Hackbarth wonders if this is because a city can offer a more successful career and salary, than a country town can.

Understanding that people like to portray themselves through their personal appearance and financial success, Hackbarth believes that men are going about this in an unbefitting manner. Appearing to take a hundred and eighty degree turn, metrosexuals have distanced themselves too far from the image of being a “smelly, unshaven man smashing beer cans on his forehead and wiping his nacho cheese down the front of his stained T-shirt” (400). Hackbarth says that women lose interest when men are not willing to take a chance time after time, and when they come across as being too sensitive.

Hackbarth explains how America is changing and we have become aware of our differences, accepting them. She goes on to admit concern about American Men over twenty and younger than fifty, in which over half of the men surveyed said, love is more important than being a recent survey of successful at work. Why would this concern her? It does, since it was a survey of both single and married men.

Wondering about these men, Hackbarth guesses that they are the metrosexuals, who are willing to give up a chance at being an executive for love. She believes that this is not industrious for us, there will be no advances in modern science and medicine, and it will lead towards a weaker foreign policy, which will put America farther into national