"What does the “ideal” man look like? He is muscular, athletic, without body hair, trim to the point of being devoid of fat, his skin is flawless, and comes packaged neatly in a classic “V” shaped... frame."
-- Stephen Gregor
-- Stephen Gregor
THE ISSUE
While there's near constant discussion of how media negatively impact girls' and women's body image, we often overlook the media's effects on body image for men and boys.
Historically, the focus on male appearance stemmed from advertisers' desire to sell male grooming products. The newfound significance of the male consumer increased the cultural value placed on men's appearance and conceived the metrosexual man. While the metrosexual man cares about traditionally "feminine" things like personal style, this product of consumer culture only enforces the importance of men's physical appearances and the body image issues that shadow it.
Today, the media highlight male bodies more than ever. Some of the most blatant culprits, like men's magazines Men's Health and Men's Fitness, perpetuate the idea that men need to be both lean and muscular to be sexy. They emphasize intense dieting and exercising in an attempt to attain an unattainable "perfect body." But even men's style and culture magazines like GQ and Details portray unrealistic body ideals.
While there's near constant discussion of how media negatively impact girls' and women's body image, we often overlook the media's effects on body image for men and boys.
Historically, the focus on male appearance stemmed from advertisers' desire to sell male grooming products. The newfound significance of the male consumer increased the cultural value placed on men's appearance and conceived the metrosexual man. While the metrosexual man cares about traditionally "feminine" things like personal style, this product of consumer culture only enforces the importance of men's physical appearances and the body image issues that shadow it.
Today, the media highlight male bodies more than ever. Some of the most blatant culprits, like men's magazines Men's Health and Men's Fitness, perpetuate the idea that men need to be both lean and muscular to be sexy. They emphasize intense dieting and exercising in an attempt to attain an unattainable "perfect body." But even men's style and culture magazines like GQ and Details portray unrealistic body ideals.
Of course, magazines aren't the only media that influence men's body image. In the past couple of decades, movies and television have featured more and more men baring it all, showcasing impossibly chiseled torsos and arms. Even children's toys have changed, displaying muscular male figures that only represent the 1-2% of men who have that body type.
Ultimately, the media harm everyone by prioritizing physical appearance above all else. The media fail us by reducing men and women to mere physical objects.
A NOTE ABOUT THE DAD BOD
“The dad bod says, ‘I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time."
-- Mackenzie Pearson, Clemson University student
On the surface, the 2015 "dad bod" fad appears to be a more realistic alternative to the hyper-muscular standard. But digging deeper, the "dad bod" serves as a fetishization of a specific male body type. Additionally, this laxness in male beauty standards fails to translate for women. It's unlikely that the "mom bod" or "just-gave-birth bod" is going to be trending anytime soon.
Regardless of the inherent sexism, a fad that embraces a more common or attainable physique is problematic in how it fetishizes bodies.
Ultimately, the media harm everyone by prioritizing physical appearance above all else. The media fail us by reducing men and women to mere physical objects.
A NOTE ABOUT THE DAD BOD
“The dad bod says, ‘I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time."
-- Mackenzie Pearson, Clemson University student
On the surface, the 2015 "dad bod" fad appears to be a more realistic alternative to the hyper-muscular standard. But digging deeper, the "dad bod" serves as a fetishization of a specific male body type. Additionally, this laxness in male beauty standards fails to translate for women. It's unlikely that the "mom bod" or "just-gave-birth bod" is going to be trending anytime soon.
Regardless of the inherent sexism, a fad that embraces a more common or attainable physique is problematic in how it fetishizes bodies.
THE NUMBERS
Male body image concerns have dramatically increased over the past three decades. The percentage of men who are dissatisfied with their bodies increased from 15% to 43%. This increase in body dissatisfaction is comparable to women's.
In adolescent boys, nearly 18% are highly concerned about their weight and physique. More specifically, between 28% and 68% of average-weight adolescent and college males perceive themselves as underweight.
Increased body dissatisfaction results in more males turning to muscle-enhancing behaviors. A study on middle and high school males found that more than one third of participants consumed protein powder or shakes to gain muscle mass, while 6% admitted steroid use and 10.5% said they have taken some form of muscle-enhancing substance.
Currently, the rate of eating disorders among college males ranges from 4-10%.
Male body image concerns have dramatically increased over the past three decades. The percentage of men who are dissatisfied with their bodies increased from 15% to 43%. This increase in body dissatisfaction is comparable to women's.
In adolescent boys, nearly 18% are highly concerned about their weight and physique. More specifically, between 28% and 68% of average-weight adolescent and college males perceive themselves as underweight.
Increased body dissatisfaction results in more males turning to muscle-enhancing behaviors. A study on middle and high school males found that more than one third of participants consumed protein powder or shakes to gain muscle mass, while 6% admitted steroid use and 10.5% said they have taken some form of muscle-enhancing substance.
Currently, the rate of eating disorders among college males ranges from 4-10%.
WHAT THESE NUMBERS MEAN
While men increasingly face issues with body image and eating disorders, they are less likely to seek the help they need.
Our notions of masculinity prevent men from getting the help they need out of fear of seeming unmanly or weak. Additionally, symptoms of eating disorders in males differ from those in females, and male eating disorders are widely understudied. Men with eating disorders are more likely to turn to over-exercising and taking steroids. Long-term steroid use is linked to depression, severe rage and suicidal behaviors.
In addition, males who are extremely concerned about their weight are more likely to be depressed and more likely to engage in risky behaviors like binge-drinking or drug use. Factoring in the stigma and little likelihood to get treatment, these effects are far from negligible.
While men increasingly face issues with body image and eating disorders, they are less likely to seek the help they need.
Our notions of masculinity prevent men from getting the help they need out of fear of seeming unmanly or weak. Additionally, symptoms of eating disorders in males differ from those in females, and male eating disorders are widely understudied. Men with eating disorders are more likely to turn to over-exercising and taking steroids. Long-term steroid use is linked to depression, severe rage and suicidal behaviors.
In addition, males who are extremely concerned about their weight are more likely to be depressed and more likely to engage in risky behaviors like binge-drinking or drug use. Factoring in the stigma and little likelihood to get treatment, these effects are far from negligible.
SOURCES
"Statistics on Males and Eating Disorders." National Eating Disorders Association. Web.
Cruz, Jamie Santa. "Body-Image Pressure Increasingly Affects Boys." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 10 Mar. 2014. Web.
Moylan, Brian. "'Dad Bod' Is a Sexist Atrocity." Time. Time, 5 May 2015. Web.
Gregor, Stephen. "The Man behind the Mask: Male Body Image Dissatisfaction." Australian Psychological Society. Australian Psychological Society, June 2004. Web.
"Statistics on Males and Eating Disorders." National Eating Disorders Association. Web.
Cruz, Jamie Santa. "Body-Image Pressure Increasingly Affects Boys." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 10 Mar. 2014. Web.
Moylan, Brian. "'Dad Bod' Is a Sexist Atrocity." Time. Time, 5 May 2015. Web.
Gregor, Stephen. "The Man behind the Mask: Male Body Image Dissatisfaction." Australian Psychological Society. Australian Psychological Society, June 2004. Web.
EATING DISORDER RESOURCES
Please remember that eating disorders have nothing to do with gender identity or sexual orientation.
Fortunately, there are numerous online resources focusing on eating disorders that provide information and assistance.
There are also resources specifically for men with eating disorders.
Please remember that eating disorders have nothing to do with gender identity or sexual orientation.
Fortunately, there are numerous online resources focusing on eating disorders that provide information and assistance.
- National Eating Disorders Association (NESDA)
- National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD)
- Help Guide - Eating Disorder Treatment and Recovery
- National Institute of Mental Health - Eating Disorders: More Than About Food
- Eating Disorder Hope
There are also resources specifically for men with eating disorders.
- The National Association for Males with Eating Disorders (N.A.M.E.D.)
- Males and Eating Disorders (NESDA)
- Males and Eating Disorders (ANAD)
- Males get eating disorders too (National Eating Disorders Collaboration)
- Male Eating Disorders (Eating Disorder Hope)