We often feel judged by others, family, friends, strangers, everyone. Sometimes it bothers us other times it doesn’t, but the same judgement coming from ourselves can be very difficult to deal with. We can be our worst critic and can be very harsh on ourselves.
Struggles men face
We know women struggle with issues relating to their body, but so do men. Studies show that women have a higher report of negative body image but the rate of men admitting to body dissatisfaction has been increasing. Studies do show that women are judged more on looks than men but that does not make their struggles any smaller.
One major reason for this negativity is due to the silver screen, that is the film industry. When boys look at actors like Chris Pratt and his body transformation for superhero movies they idealize that as “perfect.” It’s like a theme on Instagram to see guys showcase their abs and no shame to that. But some feel the need/pressure to build their body rather than something they want.
All this can be seen as a motivation, seeing people hit the gym and ‘getting ripped.’ But it also comes with a lot of pressure and even intimidating for those who don’t work out.
Struggling with body image is just one part of it, they are simultaneously worried about hair loss, height concerns and so on. This is due to the stigma that men with thinning or no hair will seem less attractive, even shorter men have often been made fun of.
It’s not just heterosexual men that face these stereotypes, homosexual men have the same pressure to deal with. Men in heterosexual relationships compare themselves to other men, but homosexuals often compare themselves with their partner. They also have to face the stereotype of acting a certain way due to media portrayal.
How times have changed
In the 1800s the ‘ideal’ body shape for women was curvy. In the 1900s there was a constant back and forth with the 'ideal' body shape for both genders. Men who were chubby and women with curves were celebrated and it went back to ‘slim and trim.’
When technology got more advanced and mass manufacturing started it was difficult to cater to all body types, hence there were fewer variations.
As time went on fashion became more about loving and accepting your body than trying to hide it.
A take away from all this
Culture does play a huge role when it comes to body image. Different cultures have different body standards. Cultures that focus on what a person is capable of doing rather than focusing on appearance may build a more positive body image.
Many people talk about body positivity today and how you must love and accept yourself. Even though media generates a lot of anxiety related to one’s body many celebrities have been opening up and talking about their struggles.
The organization Eating Disorder Hope spoke on how social media can benefit the way women feel about their body. The talks on body positivity create a better understanding and accepting environment.
Remember it is not your body type that matters but it’s your health. I have always been told to lose weight to “look pretty” but rarely to be healthy. The stereotype that fat people are unhealthy is not always true. An overweight person may be eating a lot healthier than someone with the ‘ideal’ body shape but they are still told to “exercise more.”
I want to end by saying being a certain weight and shape does not define you as a person. If you’re overweight or skinny and want to change the way you look, do it. Do it because YOU want to not because it’s expected of you. Your goal must be to get healthy and feel better in your skin. Don’t let society or peer pressure take away your choice. Your size is not your identity.
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