A Descriptive Study on the Attitude of Filipino Males and Females toward Metrosexuality

Abstract

There is an advent of metrosexuals, especially in metropolitan areas. It has become a very familiar word, but Filipinos still remain uncertain as to what metrosexuals and metrosexuality means. This study aims to determine the following: (1) attitude of Filipino males and females on metrosexuality; (2) familiarity and understanding of Filipinos on metrosexuality; and (3) relationship of age, year level, socio-economic status, location, sexual orientation and being a metrosexual to the attitude of a person towards metrosexuality. The study employed combined qualitative and quantitative research design. A survey questionnaire was used to measure the attitude of students. Frequencies, paired sample t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were the tools used for quantitative analysis while open- ended questions, for qualitative analysis. Four hundred thirty-eight college students from the College of Arts and Sciences in the University of the Philippines Manila, of which 189 are males and 249 are females, were the survey respondents. Their age range from 16 to 52 years. The study revealed that not all people are familiar with the term “metrosexuality” or ’metrosexual”. Those who know these terms relate them to vanity, being “in-touch” with cleaning and grooming himself, and an obsessive compulsive just like David Beckham. The major indicator of a metrosexual are the inclination to beautification, fashion knowledge and extreme vanity but not gay. The attitude of students on metrosexuals is seen to be positive, despite the minimal knowledge of this term. Gender, being a metrosexual and civil status have significant correlation with the respondents’ attitude towards metrosexuality. Females, metrosexuals and single respondents were seen to have a more positive attitude on metrosexuality compared to their counterparts. Almost half of the male respondents were deemed as metrosexuals and most of them were in the higher socio-economic status.