23/07/2024
What is a ‘Himbo’? 💕💪
‘Originally coined in 1988, himbo is a derivative of the now outmoded “bimbo”, one of the many words used to berate women who don’t fit into society’s view of what is/isn’t acceptable. Bimbo itself was originally used to refer to men, but the patriarchy did its usual artful deflection. Today, a true himbo must be, according to Tumblr, “beefy, kind, and stupid”. 🥹
Not 100% down with being objectified as a sexy du***ss? I get it. Shift the stupidity slightly to a kind of… innocence. It’s not about lacking intelligence or common sense, more that their thoughts are as yet unsullied by the cynicism and toxic opinions that make him a man to be wary of. The himbo is unthreatening because he doesn’t feel threatened himself – he’s secure enough in his masculinity not to act entitled or lash out when challenged. As Miles Klee explains: “These gentle oafs are a special breed, too innocent to hurt out of malice or insecurity, too serene in their size and strength to even start a war of words… He dreams not of acquisition and conquest, as his humble imagination leans toward the basic comforts: a home gym, nice friends, grilled dinners and an energetic dog.”
The himbo’s resurgence is a natural reaction to the once-lovable sexy nerd. Kindness is the himbo’s speciality: his good deeds come without motive. He’s not just nice because he wants to sleep with you, but because he’s an empathetic soul and it’s the right thing to do.
The himbo still has hurdles to overcome. We love an underdog, so it can be hard to root for anyone who looks so good, let alone associate this strong physique with kindness or gentleness. Weren’t we always taught that the squadrons of roided-up meatheads causing trouble on a Saturday night were the macho stereotype to be avoided? But this is the key difference: the himbo leans into this aesthetic, but doesn’t exploit it. A himbo doesn’t cause trouble or need to exert strength to frighten anyone – he just likes the way his pecs look in a T-shirt.’
Justin Myers for
You can get your Himbo pendant as part of my chains, chokers, or sold separately 💖
