Remember when people used the word ‘bimbo’ as a pejorative term for the attractive but not-too-bright young woman aka the dumb blonde stereotype? Well, that term isn't used quite as much in recent times. However, that didn’t stop people from creating new, equivalent coinage for men such as mimbo and himbo. Right off the bat, I must say that the himbo sounds as offensive a term as bimbo. But exactly what is a himbo? The tweeple had a lot to say:
Himbo is a combination of ‘him’ and ‘bimbo’. So he's big and buff and attractive. He is not too bright and is rather naïve. He is also gentle and respectful. So, as the urban dictionary suggests, maybe don’t try to have a deep philosophical conversation with him.
Kronk, a character in the Disney film The Emperor's New Groove seems to fit the bill. The himbo is big and strong but not violent or malevolent.
Jason Mendoza from The Good Place can also be described as a himbo. Good looking and well-intentioned, but ultimately rather intellectually limited.
Many of the tweeple crown George of the Jungle as the ultimate himbo - the hunky guy who isn't even conscious of his own attractiveness.
Right before he smashes into a tree or trips over his own feet, that is.
Kevin's character in the reboot of Ghostbusters played by Chris Hemsworth is the exact personification of the himbo: ridiculously good looking, dumb as soup and also just ridiculous.
Joey from Friends is very good looking and not too bright but he is the sweetest and most loyal of friends --- ergo something of a himbo.
Apparently liking a himbo is predatory behaviour. This is kind of a creepy explanation for a term whose chief fault was, in my view some basic stereotyping and pigeonholing.
It isn't his ‘dumbness’ but his ‘niceness’. The himbo is attractive not because he is not-too-bright but in spite of it. He may be ditzy but he is caring and empathetic – he’s not full of himself and he doesn’t put on airs. Usually, the really good looking guys are really full of themselves. And girls really don't like that.
So why exactly is himbo a pejorative term again? This guy sounds like the ideal guy for most women! Bring out the himbos! There are very many, very appreciative women (or men) out there, just waiting for them.
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