They think that growing a carefully trimmed beard (or the other variant – the excessively scraggly bushy beard) exhibits their masculinity. This is the generation that grew up with metrosexuals, hipsters, saggy jeans (and their antithesis, the skinny jeans). There are a few individuals that stand out from the crowd, maintaining traditional manly values and skill sets, but as a whole, most young men are weak. However, I have noticed some tendencies that set this younger set of young fellows off from previous generations – there are few manly men. This is not different than my own generation or the ones before it. Like any generation, there are good ones and bad ones. During this timeframe, I have been able to assess their nature and character.
I have been doing this long enough that some of my earliest contacts from that group are entering their mid 30s now.
My job brings me into contact with lots of young men, ages 18-25.
