“Social media shows us all these folks hitting the gym, losing weight, getting ripped… you’d think it’d inspire me, but most times it makes me want to hide in a corner,” a friend told me. Some find the uptick in social fitness content motivational, but there’s a degree of intimidation involved - particularly for those new to exercise. So thanks to the prevalence of Facebook and Instagram, whose combined monthly user count represents over 43 percent of the global population, our younger - and soon to be largest - generations are exposed to images and videos of others working out every day. A recent GQ feature about Instagram’s influence on fitness reported that 43 percent of people take photos or videos at the gym. The big screen isn’t the only place guys are being exposed to unrealistic bodies. “Yet they’re associated with the idea of masculinity - the notion that as a man, I have to look a certain way, act a certain way.” “These bodies are attainable for a small number of people - maybe half a percent of the male community,” says Aaron Flores, a registered dietitian nutritionist from Calabasas specializing in male body image. In these films, “ideal” male physiques are shown constantly, sending a message: To be brave, dependable, and honorable, you need big muscles. have been superhero stories, according to data observed from Box Office Mojo. When famous celeb trainer Gunnar Peterson was asked how he’d respond to a male actor trying to succeed on acting talent alone without being in great shape, he responded: “All of a sudden you go, ‘Oh, maybe you can be the friend.’ Or: ‘We’ll do an indie film.’ ”įor the last three years, at least 4 out of the top 10 grossing movies in the U.S. A vicious cycle ensues.Ī 2014 feature about today’s fitness-crazy world of Hollywood is especially eye-opening. This increases male public interest in obtaining their recipes for chiseled abs and bulging biceps. Stars like Hugh Jackman and Chris Pratt pack on muscle to transform into superheroes to join the likes of Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg. Most celebrities, scientists, and average guys agree that there’s one major contributing factor we can credit for the rise of negative body perception for men and boys: the silver screen. The problem goes beyond a college guy hitting the gym to try to get a date: 90 percent of boys in middle and high school exercise at least occasionally with the specific goal of “bulking up.” Research by psychiatrists at UCLA shows that overall, people today feel worse about the way they look than they did in the 1970s. The superhero effect: Why do males feel pressure to look a certain way? One thing is for certain: Just like the challenges faced by women, male body image issues are deeper than just weight. And similar to women, research shows men are often caught feeling either too thin or too heavy to meet the male ideal.īut what’s causing men today to feel so much pressure about their appearances? What specifically are they unhappy with and how can they deal with it? The movement’s intent seems well-meaning, but it also raises a question: Is there a body positive movement for men? While there’s a plethora of evidence that women are judged more by their looks than men are, research shows that body image issues facing men are just as complex.Ĭelebrities like Sam Smith and Robert Pattinson have opened up about their struggles with the way they look in recent years, providing more confirmation that body image is a problem for men - even famous and successful ones. The female body positivity movement is stronger than ever: Brands like Dove and American Eagle have launched campaigns to help women learn to be appreciative of their bodies, regardless of how they compare to media standards. The event is one of the many examples of recent efforts to lift the long-running stigma associated with having an “imperfect” body. The Curvy Con is the brainchild of two fashion bloggers who wanted to create a space where “plus-size brands, fashionistas, shopaholics, bloggers, and YouTubers” could embrace the curvy female figure. About 40 blocks north of Spring Studios, where chic, slender models walk the runway for New York Fashion Week’s biggest showcases, there’s another kind of fashion event taking place.
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