What Women Find Attractive About Men Around The World
We keep hearing about what men around the world find attractive in women, and the extreme lengths some ladies are going through to be perceived as beautiful, but men aren't exactly just rolling out of bed each day either. They might act like they don't put much time or effort into their appearance, but we all know they can primp and accessorize for just as long as we do, sometimes even longer.
While men in America and other Westernized countries are currently making women drool over their lumberjack look with their man buns, neatly trimmed beards, and a ton of flannel, some of the ladies in other countries are probably laughing at this ridiculous trend. Instead they're looking for men who, to us, might look a bit strange.
Nothing demonstrates more that beauty is in the eye of the beholder than these beauty standards for men all over the world.
Dark unibrows on the men of Tajikistan
As a small country of just over 8 million people in Central Asia, few people have heard of Tajikistan let alone the strange yet popular style that both men and women follow. While Western beauty has made hair removal a popular trend, you might be surprised to hear that this certainly isn't the case all over the world. Specifically in Tajikistan, where men will rock a unibrow as it's considered to be attractive and manly. Even the ladies get in on this fashion statement, as Tajikistan women with unibrows are seen as more pure and beautiful.
Not everyone can be born with a unibrow however, which you may not know is a medical condition called synophrys. So when someone from this part of the world isn't blessed with a natural overgrowth of the hair in between their eyebrows, they will actually invest in a leafy herb called Usma.
The leaves are sun dried and then ground up until they form a dark gunk that is then used to make the eyebrows darker and thicker as well as dye the skin in the unibrow area. Basically a cheaper alternative to that eyebrow filler you bought from Ulta, these fake unibrows make Tajikistan men appear manlier and more appealing to the opposite sex.
Makeup and a feminine appearance on the guys in Japan
Young Japanese girls are apparently going crazy for guys who are following this growing trend — where men are dressing more like women. According to The New York Times, the style is often referred to as "genderless danshi" or genderless young man. Japanese guys are not only wearing makeup, but also wearing their hair longer and often dyed, accessorizing with jewelry and handbags, wearing tighter fitting or even women's clothes, and some men will even attempt to walk around in a pair of heels.
The New York Times spoke to model and Japanese pop band member Toman Sasaki who explained, "At heart, I am a man," and the concept of gender "isn't really necessary." Sasaki was sure to mention that he considers himself to be heterosexual. Masafumi Monden, who researches Japanese fashion and culture at the University of Technology Sydney, explains in the same NYT article that in Japan, unlike in Westernized countries, a person's choice of style and sexuality are typically more separated. This growing trend is just starting to take off, and will likely continue to expand across the Japanese culture.
Some height on the men in China
Typically, the Chinese haven't been the tallest people in the world, however, that hasn't stopped some of them from going out of their way to change that. According to The New York Times, height has become more than just something that makes a man attractive in China — a person's height in China can actually label them undatable, and many shorter men and women never marry. To make matters worse, there are actual height requirements for college admission and even certain job positions. This means that shorter men aren't only less attractive due to their appearance, but also because they have fewer education and career opportunities.
The NYT reported how some people go as far as having a painful procedure done where the shin bones are cut in half and the legs are put into a brace which separates the bones approximately one millimeter per day. Over the course of six months, a person will be able to add a few inches, however they can't walk that entire time and are likely to never be able to run again. Even though the procedure has improved over the years, according to The China Post, the surgery's $11,000 price tag might steer some men toward a simpler solution such as shoe lifts and heels.
Double eyelids in South Korea
South Korea is considered the plastic surgery capital of the world. While both men and women around the world are investing in nose jobs and face lifts, double eyelid surgery is by far the most popular procedure in the world with 1.43 million people getting it done in 2014 according to Business Insider. Women allegedly find this look more appealing as it gives men bigger eyes as well as a Westernized look. All of this can be achieved for a relatively reasonable price — between $1,000 and $3,000. So it's no wonder so many people are getting it done.
The surgery is reportedly not just about attracting a partner, but can also be a predicator of success. Dr. Choi, director of JK Plastic Surgery, explained to Business Insider how one's appearance in South Korea will weigh heavily on their options in the job market. Beauty actually matters so much that job applicants are required to provide a photo along with their resume, which has led to many people actually Photoshopping their images. Choi explains saying, "Usually people believe that people with better appearance have more opportunity."
Lighter skin on the men in India
Like in other Asian countries, those with darker skin have been looked down upon and discriminated against in India as traditionally that meant they worked labor jobs outdoors. Those in higher class systems would remain indoors, typically working office or academic jobs. It's for this reason that skin lightening products have become so popular among both men and women in India, outselling Coca-Cola and even tea sales, according to BBC News. Women tend to be more attracted to men with lighter skin as it's not only associated with wealth, but with fame as well. One of India's top actors and models, John Abraham, explained why men are lightening their skin saying, "Indian men want to look better."
India's market of skin lightening products for men alone is estimated to be worth $70 million according to The Globe and Mail, including soaps, moisturizers, and even shaving creams. The sudden increase in these men's beauty products is due to an increase in income as well as an increase in exposure to the West through the internet and popular television shows. The article also notes that a marketing report done by AC Nielsen predicts that this is only the beginning and demand for skin-whitening products will only continue to increase.
Facial scars in the Dinka Tribe of the South Sudan
The boys of the Dinka Tribe in South Sudan look forward to their thirteenth birthday for one very important reason: it's the day they become a man. To demonstrate this, the boys go through a scarification ceremony where they're given several v-shaped cuts on their foreheads. This specific pattern is to indicate that they're from the Dinka Tribe, and how each boy handles the pain determines how manly they are, as well as how attractive they are to women in the tribe. According to The Niles, boys will often bleed for hours and some even vomit during the process.
While every boy isn't required to get the scars, those who do get them are seen not only as adults but also more valuable in the tribe. A thirteen year old boy named James allowed The Niles to observe his head marking ceremony to which he explained, "I am free now to talk with girls and they will not call me a boy anymore, because in Dinka culture, somebody with marks on the forehead is being respected as a big man even though small in age." The ladies of the tribe view the men who go through the ceremony to be much more attractive and a more appealing partner than those who don't.
Dressing sharp in Italy
It's safe to say that the fashion among the men in Italy surpasses that of men in any other country, making them collectively some of the most stylish men in the world. In many countries, having one's clothes tailored is something our grandparents did a hundred years ago. Yes, maybe we still get the occasional dress or pair of pants altered, but we certainly aren't going to our tailor often enough to know their name. Forbes recommends that men have their clothes custom made and tailored to match the style of an Italian man, or at the very least tailored to a proper fit. An Italian man would never be seen in public in an ill fitting suit!
Alongside their sexy accents and well-tailored suits, Forbes notes that men in Italy attract the ladies with their swagger by adding a colorful accessory to an ordinarily plain outfit. They do this with a bold belt, pocket square, or even a hat and all the women swoon. What makes them stand out from the styles of other men around the world is their lack of graphic tees or t-shirt with silly slogans on the front. Maybe they save those kinds of clothes for the gym or lounging around the house.
Arab men with light eyes
In countries all over the Middle East, women drool over men with dark features and light eyes. The Guardian reflects how Arab women have come to find those with lighter skin and eyes more attractive as that's what they're used to seeing in the media. That said, even though these guys might appear to have it all with their devilishly handsome good looks, it seems being "too sexy" is looked down upon in some Arab countries.
Several men who were attending a festival in Saudi Arabia were spotted and deported back to the United Arab Emirates, where they were citizens, for being too attractive, according to The Telegraph. An Arabic newspaper reported on the incident, which The Telegraph quoted, "A festival official said the three Emiratis were taken out on the grounds they are too handsome and that the Commission [for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vices] members feared female visitors could fall for them."
Sounds crazy, right? While the identity of the three men wasn't officially released, the media speculated that self proclaimed actor, poet, and photographer Omar Borkan Al Gala was one of these men, according to The Huffington Post. The social media starlet hasn't confirmed he was involved in the altercation, but he hasn't exactly denied it either. You only need to look a picture of him to agree that that Al Gala very well could have had something to do with this "too handsome" epidemic if he was in the area.
Being true to themselves across the world
There's nothing more attractive than a man who is true to himself, regardless of where in the world he's from. Confidence will turn more heads than any fashion statement or hair style. Whether a guy is into fashion, video games, or tattoos, it's his confidence in who he is that attracts women the most. While outer beauty might be what lures some women in, inner beauty is what makes them stick around!