Well done everyone, and not just defensive males but the ladies have excelled themselves with appraisal of their preferences. I think Yorkshire Yankee produced a sound explanation of the "retro-beards" who took up the anarchic cause in the mid sixties and one rebelled by alternative dress code and facial hair. There is of course many aspects of image defining cults,tattoos are an obvious diversity,and
rarely seen amongst folkies.Bald oiled heads and wobbly flab and beefcake present equally with work-out weight trimmed bodies in the heavy metal fraternity. The executive and "clean cut" image of the white collar worker again defines what we expect. I recently had a stay in hospital and the young registrar who breezed into my pre-op room was a cool,hip dude who bedecked with pony tail and facial piercings did give me an identity crisis. We are after all tribal in our need for social acceptance. Image after all is everthing!.
This thread has provided some unusual and illuminating insights into the perceptions of a broad focus group.
Thanks to all
Topcat