A New Trend in Male Attractiveness

The internet has once again assigned an unusual label to men, this time focusing on their "rodent-like" features. This trend, dubbed "hot rodent men," has gained traction online, with articles and social media posts defining a new category of unconventionally attractive men.

These men typically have angular facial structures, beady eyes, untidy hair, and lanky builds, though these characteristics don't always apply universally. Essentially, they possess features that could be described as vaguely resembling those of a rat.

However, the trend has sparked criticism. Some argue that even if "rodent" is intended as a compliment, comparing people to rats can be offensive. Others point out that the men mentioned in these discussions are predominantly white.

Examples of "hot rodent men" include Timothée Chalamet, Jeremy Allen White, Barry Keoghan, Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor, and Matty Healy – some of the most talked-about male celebrities in recent months. The trend gained momentum after the release of the film "Challengers," starring Faist and O'Connor as male leads in a love triangle with a former tennis star. Viewers quickly noticed their supposed resemblance to mice, particularly cartoon ones, leading to online memes and discussions.

The "hot rodent boyfriend" discourse has proliferated through media outlets and tabloid headlines, even sparking debate within the New York Times styles team, which published an article analyzing the characteristics of a "rodent man."

eagle handsome, bear handsome, dog handsome, and reptilian handsome. The "rodent man" is just the latest iteration of these ever-evolving terms used to describe the type of man the internet finds collectively attractive at any given moment.

Previous trends include "so babygirl" (a gender-neutral term of endearment with no clear definition), "golden retriever boyfriends" (described as goofy, kind, and loyal), and "sickly, skinny, white men" (popularized by specific Hollywood casting choices and celebrity couples).

Many of these trends focus on unconventional attractiveness, highlighting physical or personality attributes that deviate from traditional masculinity. This aligns with the internet's recent fascination with "medium ugly" men, who don't conform to conventional male beauty standards.

These fleeting infatuations with specific quirks tend to be short-lived, replaced by new trends and desires inspired by pop culture events and online discussions. For now, however, the internet seems convinced that "rodent men" will dominate the summer.