Body Image Issues In Men

[PhuturePriest]

This post makes my butt look big

 

Don't blame it on the post.

[arfink]

I question how you can't find one of my nine million pictures on Phatmass, but here ya go:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't know you grew a beard. Man...

[AnneLine]

True thing, ARFink!   I know that Miles said on one of the threads that he has to shave a few times a day, but look what happens when he goes without for a week!   Scary!

 

 

I think part of the body image thing (for men and for women) is that our culture is so hyper-sexualized and hyper-sensualized.  We are aware of our bodies in ways previous generations may not have been.   I agree with you, Miles, it really is an issue for a lot of guys.  For those of you for whom it is NOT an issue, be very grateful and say a prayer for the common man.    Because... it's a common problem for almost everyone, male and female.  We are shown the body beautiful (and it is given to us as the 'norm' for which we should strive... but it is almost impossible for anyone to achieve, and we all end up with body envy, even when not aware of it.

 

I was fascinated, frankly, when I was in my counseling program, to see what a HUGE issue this is for a lot of people.   I remember one day when the abnormal psych teacher (who was preparing to teach us about self-perception disorders... 'body dysmorphic disorder' is the technical name for this, by the way....) and she asked, in what I thought was going to be a rhetorical question, "How many of you look in the mirror and like your body?'  I stuck up my hand (and I am not a huge beauty, as my hair is too thin, and my body is too heavy --that is reality --) because I am very happy with my body most of the time, flaws and all.... but I was startled and then horrified to realize that out of 60 people, MINE was the only hand in the air.

 

Yes.

 

Exactly.

 

And almost every one of those students was 20 years or more younger than I and possessed of simply gorgeous bodies... but they couldn't see it.  Because they didn't look like the TV and Movie people.  

 

We ARE being given a bunch of hog wash about what we should look like.... and it is sad.

 

We are the beautiful creation of God in all His infinite variety.... and it is sad if the evil one can get us thinking otherwise....

[Nihil Obstat]

Relevant:

[AnneLine]

Nihil.....

 

That guy is fat and has a LOT of cellulite.

 

The lady's mouth is too wide and her eyes look funny.

[ChristinaTherese]

Relevant:

I wrote a paper on the effects of Barbie in other cultures for a class last year....

[AnneLine]

Agreed, but it is BIGGER than the Barbie doll problem.  When I worked at a home for abused and abandoned children, all the adults were given STRICT orders about what to wear/ not to wear and how to move.  And frankly... in a very secular place, it sounded like a lecture from some kind of a parody of a 1950's Catholic School from Saturday Night Live!   Except instead of it being delivered by a nun in full garb with a ruler, it was being delivered by a hip young guy to a mixed group of men and women... and was LARGELY being aimed at the GUYS in the group.  It ran:

 

You may NOT wear tight clothing.  All shorts must come to the knee (it was a summer program).  You may NOT wear short sleeved shirts/blouses, and you may NOT have your collars open.   Men and women must sit properly, and this especially is directed toward the guys.... be careful if you are wearing shorts. 

 

The instructor then continued, with the saddest look in his eyes I have ever seen:  These are not normal little kids.  These kids have been abused and hypersexualized.   It does NOT take a lot to turn them on.   A look, a glimpse, and they will be right back at square one for the repair work we are trying to do.   So please PLEASE don't risk this.'

 

And I went home that night, turned on the TV... and realized that it wasn't just the kids at the center -- ALL of us have just gotten exposed to way too much exposed flesh... exposed .... everything.   And this crazy body image issue is one of the fruits of that, I fear.   And I pray for all who are dealing with this today......

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

I think FP's point is that some, half or most men can suffer from body image illusions as well and not measuring up to the supposed media standard of what and which men get into the movies and t.v. shows, george castanza is healthier and better looking than me lol. Even the not so good looking ones in the media are good looking just because the leads are amazingly looking. Idiosas, you don't realise how much impact the pop media has on young minds and hearts do you, on any mind and heart really ? Whether the person or persons admit it or not, there crying on there pillow at night sometimes, often or half the time because they don't supposedly measure up to pop belief, or crying on the inside.

 

God is Good.

Edited December 5, 2013 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

FP and dUSt look like a great team, the short and tall of it so to speak. Can you rap FP or have you ever tried or been shown how to? And are you any good at poetry, whether a little C, half half B or straight A's ? You look like a really cool rapper to me lol. Honest to goodness it's true, i would sign you up bro.

[PhuturePriest]

FP and dUSt look like a great team, the short and tall of it so to speak. Can you rap FP or have you ever tried or been shown how to? And are you any good at poetry, whether a little C, half half B or straight A's ? You look like a really cool rapper to me lol. Honest to goodness it's true, i would sign you up bro.

I don't like rap, actually, and have therefore never tried it. I sing, though, and I've gotten a lot better at it recently.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

I don't like rap, actually, and have therefore never tried it. I sing, though, and I've gotten a lot better at it recently.

 

Ok. Singing is good. Why don't you like rap singing, any particular reason ? I'm not big on eating most ocean creatures because my taste buds seem not to be compatible, although i have had a couple of times sea creatures i would never eat and actually enjoyed them, perhaps it was just because the way they where cooked.

Edited December 5, 2013 by Tab'le De'Bah-Rye

[PhuturePriest]

Ok. Singing is good. Why don't you like rap singing, any particular reason ? I'm not big on eating most ocean creatures because my taste buds seem not to be compatible, although i have had a couple of times sea creatures i would never eat and actually enjoyed them, perhaps it was just because the way they where cooked.

I just don't like the sound. Iron Maiden, Michael Buble, and One Direction are more my taste.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

lol, iron maiden as opposed to michael buble. After this quick question than i must go back to the Body images and men topic to contemplate in my room for a few minutes and what it deeply means to me/ examination of concience. You have a pretty broad range of musical tastes, do you have a favorite style of music and artist/s ? 

[PhuturePriest]

lol, iron maiden as opposed to michael buble. After this quick question than i must go back to the Body images and men topic to contemplate in my room for a few minutes and what it deeply means to me/ examination of concience. You have a pretty broad range of musical tastes, do you have a favorite style of music and artist/s ?

I like whatever gives me a rushing feeling when I listen to it.

[blazeingstar]

I think there is a vast difference between men's body images in the media and woman's.  I think the barbie highlights one of them.  For one, women's images have been pushed farther and farther to the point where they could no longer be human. 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/time-lapse-video-shows-models-photoshop-transformation-20738180

 

On the other hand like the He-man cartoon the idea of men has more or less been stable for the past 100 years.  Not only that but male actors come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, wheras female actresses are often think, between 5'8 and 5'10" and white.  There are many actors (male) who were overweight (John Candy, John Belushi, Kevin James) who were quite famous and considered likeable.  The women (Rosanne, Queen Latifia) are considered b****es.

 

Thats not to say that the overdriven media can't cause a problem for boys and young men.  However, they experiance a very small portion and influence that women endure on a daily basis.