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If you spend any time on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, you’ve probably heard the satirical, catchy jingle: “Looking for finance man. Trust fund. 6-5. Blue eyes. Finance,” and it lasts for about 19 seconds.
These audios were initially accompanied by various clips (usually edited by women) of well-groomed, suited men strutting around city streets, riding the subway, or dominating the lunchtime Chipotle queue. Ironically, none of the men in these clips get all the points of the song, but that’s the point. The internet never tires of talking about the concept of men in finance. They wear suits. Did I mention that? The suits are probably the most important part. They practice good hygiene, go to the gym, and apparently don’t live with six roommates. And best of all, they’re going to work. It doesn’t matter if they’re not 6’5″. These are men in finance, and they can’t wait to take off their Patagonia vests.
of original song Influencer Megan Boni created the video on her account “Girl on Couch.” Since then, the video has gone viral, with the original video being Millions It has been viewed over a million times, and the audio has since been reused tens of thousands of times in various satirical skits and comedy scenarios. DJs such as David Guetta have Remix Bonnie then Capitol RecordsThe simple statement, “Man in Finance,” will complete the jingle for Gen Z and millennials alike.
This portrayal of finance men stands in stark contrast to a more recent (now defunct) depiction of the exact same phenomenon, except with a far less objectionable term: finance bros, who, despite having significant overlap with finance men, were officially portrayed in the popular media as sleazy, cologne-smeared, overgrown frat boys with more red flags than the Chinese Communist Party.
Meanwhile, the image of men in finance is glamorous: diva, dramatic, sassy, and above all, damn nice and damn unattainable. (Prove me wrong. My email address is at the bottom of the article.)
The unattainability of the finance man speaks to several factors. The idea of a person (regardless of gender) with a stable career is now RarityIt’s also a self-reinforcing cycle: the harder it is for anyone to find work, the more attractive those who do manage to find work seem, thus creating a newfound comical tolerance, and dare I say, attraction, for previously despised finance bros.
Additionally, career success, once taken for granted, is now a distinguishing feature as millennials and Gen Z struggle to achieve financial independence in the current economy. Unstable economy The environment. People are tired. Paying rent and Student Loans It’s at an all-time high, and stability has never been more appealing, at least to struggling younger generations.
I suspect the popularity of this trend is also the product of a cultural shift. And it’s a positive one. Some harsh people have interpreted the satirical “finance men” as a mockery of feminist progress, or as a dangerous call back to the past: chasing men to solve your financial woes. But that’s not the point of the finance men trend. There are still traits you want in a partner, even if you don’t give up those things yourself.
I don’t see the trend towards men in finance as a paradoxical call to rely on men, I see it as a powerful cry against the seemingly superficial choices and preferences that are usually reserved for men. It has been accepted since time immemorial that men have unattainable superficial standards for women, but now it’s women’s turn to brag about men who are shorter than them. 0.01% Half the population does. It’s unattainable and absurd, but it’s rendered harmless by its unrealistic and absurd perception.
Anyway, that’s my official analysis of the “finance man” trend that’s gone viral. Let’s see what the next societal shift will bring to Wall Street guys. Will they continue to be objectified in social media hits? Maybe they’ll return to their college sorority boyfriend, finance bro status. Or maybe they’ll be replaced by another niche group of male professionals.
Either way, trends that spread on social media are a fascinating way to see the dark currents that run through society, and “Finance Man. Trust Fund. 6-5. Blue Eyes” is a perfect example. He may not exist outside the online world of Gen Z humor, but we can dream. Delete Tinder and take a trip to the stock market.
