Is this a new era of masculinity?

Point of view- Men used to go to wars, donning bulletproof vests, operating massive artillery and dominating others. Some modern men, however, seem to have gone soft these days. They've started wearing makeup, sporting feminized clothing and flaunting egalitarian relationships.

- By MICHAEL ROY BROSAS

Self-proclaimed alpha males complain about this shift in gender expressions. In their podcasts, short-form videos and social media posts, they ask: "What happened to men?" They zoom in on male influencers' shiny nail polish or show photos like that of hit singer Harry Styles in a skirt or two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo in a crop top. Men used to be tough, stoic and aggressive, they would say. Now, they're saying men are "as threatening as a houseplant."

It's not just the alpha males who are raising alarm. Conservative women are also asking, "Where are all the masculine men?" Some are concerned that "feminized men" are indicative of the deterioration of traditional family values and are afraid that modern men are no longer capable of protecting or providing for them.

Although I don't share their apprehension, I can see where they're coming from. With TikTok trends like "normalize men wearing makeup" participated in by Robi Domingo to Kyle Echarri's trending appearance as guest judge in Drag Race Philippines, it's easy to notice a shift in masculinity.

He's so 'babygirl'

In an episode of Saturday Night Live, Bowen Yang and Renee Rapp humorously described Jacob Elordi as a "babygirl." Believed to have originated in stan culture, "babygirl" is an endearment to an attractive man (typically cis-heterosexual) perceived to be sweet, charming and in touch with his femininity.

Although the term is not commonly used in the Philippines, it may be considered to describe male celebrities like Joshua Garcia or Darren Espanto - heartthrobs whose public images exude boyish charm and endearing personality.