Korean Male Pop Stars Are Breaking Stereotypes of Masculinity & It's A Glorious Revolution

Shiny and glowing skin, smoky eyes, perfectly coiffed hair and eye-popping apparel. No we are not talking about our lovely Bollywood divas, but the classic look of K-pop male idols. Now, while India is yet to fully embrace the Korean wave of music what we can learn and appreciate for sure is how these “Hallyu” (Korean wave) artists are smashing stereotypes of masculinity left, right and centre. © Twitter-SM Entertainment Let's be brutally honest. How many times have you made fun of a man who seems to be dressed a wee bit more flamboyantly than the usual? How many times have you smirked wickedly when a guy talked about his love for shoes? And lastly, how many times have you channelled your inner Supreme Court judge when facing a man talking passionately about skincare? We are all guilty here. After all, Indian men were brought up with the concept of a certain defined radius of masculinity which, God forbid, no one dare challenge. I can't tell you how many times I have mentally beaten up people (both men & women) for saying things like “Pink? Really? I thought you were a guy!” or this particular one which turns me into an angry bear, “GAY LAG RAHA HAI!”. I swear, such narrow minded barbs and jabs only show how much more we need to develop as a society. via GIPHY The Korean pop industry boasts of a stellar line up of “pretty boy” bands who besides smashing records with their amazing music are stealing millions of hearts across the globe with their perfect, doll-like look which, sometimes, appears to be computer generated (seriously). via GIPHY Bands like BTS, EXO and GOT7, who are the current flavour, are filled with boys who are driving women around the planet to insanity with their looks. Colourful hair, skin which is unbelievably clear and a pop of tint on their lips is enough to leave fans obsessing for hours. Unfortunately, this look is brushed aside as downright “girly” as the concept of men wearing makeup is still unacceptable in many of our societies. © Twitter- Big Hit Entertainment V from BTS is one classic example of someone who constantly juggles bold choices and regular looks, pulling off both with flair. On stage while performing, he flaunts bedazzled jackets, oversized hoodies, smoky eyes, contact lenses and unbelievably bouncy hair. © YouTube While appearing on talk shows and game shows, he jazzes up the regular shirts-pants combo with a beret or earrings. Both ways, he ends up looking immaculate in pictures which leave his fans and public, in general, with jelly-legs. via GIPHY Now, while some of our Indian bros are still learning how to use a face wash (sigh), we have men in Japan and Korea who not only use a variety of skincare products but also dabble with make up in their daily routine. They are ditching the traditional 'manly suit', which has always been believed to be a confidence booster for men, and are boldly embracing outfits & colours that highlight their personal best features, ranging from displaying sexy collarbones to flaunting sculpted thighs and knees. © Twitter- Allure K-pop's leading men are redefining the very idea of masculinity, and while it is still being digested by men from other cultures and countries, we applaud their daring choices which highlight their individuality and speak volumes about their identity. © Facebook- Shinee Official Many Korean idols openly talk about their rigorous skincare regimes and often take to social media showing fans how they take care of their skin and the range of products they use. The sheer confidence with which they display that side of theirs is commendable. Sadly, here in India, we still lose our minds when an actor wears pink or rocks an outfit that is even slightly unconventional for a man. © Viral Bhayani We are hoping Bollywood stars take a page from Korean “oppas” and just stop already with the predictable blue-black-suit-shirt-sneaker look which is just…no other way to say this…BORING! Why should poor Ranveer Singh single-handedly shoulder the burden of being the daring fashion challenger? © Facebook Ranveer Official However, top marks go to our men from the North-East, whose fashion sense can give stellar competition to their female counterparts. Many men from the north-eastern states are inspired by K-pop artists and it is visible in their day to day life. I lived in Nagaland for four years and was witness to it. I dreaded going to church every Sunday, because I knew I would be the only one looking like garbage in my plain jeans and shirt while the Naga dudes layered their hoodies with leather jackets and rocked artfully ripped jeans and sneakers. Most importantly, they did not just copy paste K-pop fashion, but carried a certain look with their individuality stamped over it. © Facebook- Big Bang If a man wants to look more physically attractive to others, or even himself, then no one has the right to stop him. There is no set concept of masculinity in any culture and everyone needs to be open to change. Some are able to celebrate themselves as men within the traditional boundaries while some find solace in a hint of kohl. © Facebook- BTS By showing their fans that they can be sexy even with shiny jackets and oversized sweaters, K-pop idols are sending a message saying “Watch me! There is nothing girly in this. I can sing, dance while looking pretty and still rock your damn world.” via GIPHY via GIPHY So, just unclench already and walk boldly into that salon and ask for a facial if you want. This writer has personally seen men who are trying to experiment with makeup, skincare and keep up with fashion trends, but are violently demotivated by society including their own sisters and girlfriends. We are forgetting that gender roles are not set in stone and we have all the right to bring about change. Experimenting is the key here and it needs to be embraced by both sexes. © Facebook- BTS Official Now, while K-pop single-handedly cannot bring a revolution into the lives of Indian men, it can surely inspire one to go beyond the boundaries and have fun with life. So, the next time you see your buddy trying to jazz up his regular look, please don't be a jerk and shoot him down with your venomous jibes. Also, if you feel your hands inching towards that particularly funky pair of shoes, go for it.