This weekend, while playing on Gilt, I succumbed to a moment of swooning:

The Allure of Women (Gilt, Amazon).  What could be a better coffee table book?

I’ll tell you what: The Allure of Men (Amazon).

After spending more than a year submerging myself in the murky waters of media, societal perceptions, and what “sexy” means, I’ve learned a lot about women: the way we think, why we choose, what we like…and how the media skews all of that to create a standard of beauty we’re supposed to adhere to.  I’ve also learned that the most beautiful images I’ve seen are of women reaching through those perceptions – whether they “fit the mold” or not – to show the camera something internal, something far more beautiful than the designer shoes they’re wearing.

What I haven’t noticed is men.

I mean, they’re there, I guess, but only as background pieces, as skinny, pouty furniture for women to hang on.  While I won’t get into the myriad of things that are wrong with that idea, I will say that I miss a time when men had their own masculine, virile sexuality – that testosterone-fueled power and poise a la Rock Hudson, or Michael Redgrave or, to go really oldschool, a young Henry VIII (who was quite a lady-killer in the bedroom – no pun intended).  The only modern-day hold-out appears to be Denzel Washington – even Sean Connery has succumbed to the media’s reassessment of him as a bit of a bumbling fool.

Nowadays, the only “masculine men” in the movies are based on historical fantasies or wearing superhero costumes.  The “real men,” the modern-day guys, are all non-threatening wusses, lazy beer-drinking “bros” and  scientific techy genius dudes with glasses and concave chests…and while I love a skinny geek as much as the next girl – I dated a few of them – I also love a guy with muscles.  A guy with a barrel chest.  A guy who can physically sweep you off your feet.  A guy that gets five o’clock shadow at five o’clock.

Enough ranting.  I previewed The Allure of Men, and it’s got all the goods: the fashiony modelly skinny guys, the thick-necked hairy-armed guys, whatever’s your pleasure.  So I think I’ll get both, and delve into the nostalgia of old-school sex appeal when today’s media just ain’t giving it to me.

What do you think of male stereotypes in the media?