Think body image is just a women’s issue? Think again.
Idealized images of men’s bodies have increasingly become a point of focus in Western advertising and entertainment. Over the past 20 years, rippling abs, bulging biceps and pumped-up pectorals have become the norm in Hollywood movies, on T.V. and on fashion runways. This increase in male objectification has changed both how men feel about their bodies and how they rank physical appearance in terms of its importance in their lives.
Recent research shows a definite trend in body dissatisfaction among males. Adolescent males often feel the need to be ‘bigger’ in terms of muscle mass, but the bulk of male body issues appear between ages 45 and 55, with men showing insecurities concerning their stomachs, chests and hair loss. Often, men will feel the need to be both ‘bigger’ and ‘smaller,’ wanting to lose fat around their midsection as well as feeling like their muscle bulk isn’t bulky enough.
The fact that women have been objectified for such a long time in the media—their bodies portrayed as either sexual objects or extreme ideals of femininity—has allowed researchers to chart the effects of these images on women’s self-esteem, and they’re not good. As it turns out, the media ideal of body size and shape is attainable by less than 5% of the female population, and the comparison of the self to such a rigid, uniform standard of beauty leads to a wealth of emotional imbalances as well as risky behaviors. Now men are discovering their own brand of body dissatisfaction as advertisers look for a new “in”, marketing everything from razors to sports cars with the idealized (and, often, touched-up) bodies of male models.
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In our media-driven society, we are served a constant barrage of images, and most of these pictures get processed by our subconscious. We find ourselves taking in a good deal of input without actually ‘thinking’ about it. Instead, we just have an immediate gut reaction and move on. ‘Beautiful people’ are everywhere in the media, all over TV, billboards and magazines, and this means that we see these people all the time—sometimes more often than we see our own family. This kind of exposure makes incredible good looks seem normal and attainable. Because of our media exposure, we are constantly setting higher standards of desire, and, when these standards are not met, a gulf of deficiency rushes in.
Recent findings show that Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a preoccupation with an imagined physical defect, affects men now just as much as it does women. While women often find themselves obsessed with being thin, BDD will manifest in young men as being fixated on gaining muscle mass. But BDD isn’t just limited to weight or body type. Men also find themselves overly concerned with their complexion, body hair, hair loss, wrinkles and facial features.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that, last year, nearly 1 million American men underwent cosmetic procedures (both surgical and non-surgical), and statistics show a steady climb over the past 2 decades in men looking to change their appearance. Tummy tucks, calf and pec implants, hair transplants as well as body hair removal are increasingly popular among men. There seems to be a direct correlation between these statistics and the way that the male image has changed since the 80s.
In advertising, for example, male models are now typically portrayed as having no body hair whatsoever. What many men don’t realize is that these models either shave just before a photo shoot, or their body hair is magically erased through the illusion of computer touch-ups. Expecting men to be hairless seems even less realistic than expecting women to be hairless, but we’ve held women to unrealistic standards for a lot longer. Is this simply a case of just desserts? Are men finally getting what they deserve, or does anybody deserve to feel bad about who they are and how they look?
Here are a few tips to help you (whether you’re male or female) stop comparing yourself to media images and start feeling like a whole person:
- Look critically at advertisements that push unrealistic physical goals. Realize that models usually devote a majority of time to their appearance and that digital touch-ups are used on just about every mass produced image you see.
- Turn your attention to qualities you admire about yourself that have nothing to do with the way you look. Develop these attributes rather than letting your appearance define your worth. The truth is, everyone’s looks will fade, but your best attributes will last a lifetime.
- Find friends who are not overly concerned with appearances. It can be doubly hard to let go of body issues when surrounded by voices of criticism. Instead, find friends who care for you on a deeper level and appreciate the ‘real’ you.
- Show respect for people who may not be the mainstream ideal of beauty, femininity or masculinity. Foster an appreciation for more diverse and less superficial characteristics in others.
- Focus on a sense of overall wellness rather than getting hung up on how certain body parts look. Physical Wellness means regular exercise, a well-balanced diet and proper self-care, but there’s more to it than that. Spiritual Wellness, Social Wellness, Occupational, Environmental, Intellectual, and Emotional Wellness are all equal parts of leading a happy and fulfilling life.
In the end, no one deserves to feel bad about the way they look. Media images are not reality, and, the more we support ourselves and each other as whole and unique individuals, the less important being “perfect” will seem. Just as women don’t have to be a size 2 to be beautiful, men don’t have to have huge muscles or six-pack abs to be attractive, healthy or happy.
Author: Dan Paul Roberts
Website: http://www.123FeelBetter.net/
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