Body+Image+of+Gay+Men+in+the+United+States

Within US culture, there are a variety of subcultures. The gay and lesbian culture have particular views surrounding body image and what is considered attractive just like many other cultures and subcultures. While, traditionally, in the United States muscles or fitness is considered attractive in men, within the gay male culture, there is some [|variation] as to what is considered attractive. Years ago many gay men were of a slimmer build. In the 1980's when HIV/AIDS was first really being seen in the United States, gay men afflicted with it were slim and sickly. Some hypothesize that this is where body ideals within the gay community began to change (Rybka, 2005.)



While a lot of research done on body image is fairly heteronormative, there is some research on gay men and body image. This research is primarily around athletic or muscular body types or gay men and eating disorders. There are, however, a multitude of body types within the gay community that have become subcultures themselves such as the bear community and the otter community (noodlesandbeef.com.)

Body Dissatisfaction and the "Ideal"
Body dissatisfaction is certainly something that affects gay men (Boisvert & Harrell, 2009.) Being a member of a subculture with a perceived emphasis on looks and a standard of attractive that is difficult to achieve can cause dissatisfaction with one's body and potentially lead to disordered eating or other unhealthy habits (Duncan, 2010.) A 2007 study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that 50% of their gay male participants admitted to having an eating disorder currently or at one time in their life as opposed to their heterosexual counterparts, where only 15% did (Dilts, 2011.) Most research in the area of body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and self ideal discrepancy for muscularity is primarily studied amongst white gay males, when studying the gay male population. One study focusing on African-American males had some astounding results. Participants in the study revealed that appearance changing supplements were frequently used and 25% of the sample endorsed vomiting after meals, either occasional or frequent (Heinberg, et al, 2009.) While there is a lack of data regarding race and body image in the gay community, some preliminary research has indicated that certainly race and culture play a role in body dissatisfaction (Udall-Weiner, 2009.)

While body image in the gay male community is a complex issue, the body of research is seemingly focused on two things: the thin ideal and a desire for a more muscular physique (Kane, 2009.) Attractiveness is certainly an important factor in considering a partner, but is there a gay "ideal?" One could argue that as we have evolved as a society, so has what is attractive in the gay community; that there is no body ideal and a variety of subcultures exist based on body type, hair, mannerisms, etc but that no one is considered the ideal for all men in the community. Research has primarily been focused from a heteronormative lens that suggests gay men are obsessed with youth and a muscular physique, however most of this is considered, by Kane to be an outdated idea (2009.) However, when thinking about body image in the gay community there are a few terms that come up mostly focusing on the body/physique/hair of the individual.

[|Bears, Otters, and More, Oh My!]
Within the gay community there are a variety of subcultures. Many people may be familiar with the term "bear" or even cub, but the classification system within the community is much more extensive than that. In recent years, there has been some research done on the bear culture, however most other groups have mostly been discussed in bars, classrooms, and the errant blog post or internet article.

Bears are often larger men, either overweight or sometimes muscular in build are also hairy. This particular culture began in the 1980's and bears are often viewed as masculine and mature. It is also important to note that this definition for bear is a North American definition and can vary by culture. In Europe, for example, what is considered a bear in the US, would be a "chub" there (Manley, et al, 2007.) Bears are sometimes said to reject more "traditional" ideals of attractiveness in the gay community. For some time, because thin was the ideal, men of size were not considered attractive and the bear community seems to be a result of this (Moskowitz, et al, 2013.)



Otters, like bears are hairy but have smaller frames and weigh less than a bear typically would (urbandictionary.com.) There is little academic research done on other subcultures within the gay community so it is difficult to find quantitative or qualitative findings. In addition to the otter label, there are a few others that one might hear when in a social setting. Twinks are younger gay males, think 18-mid 20's, with a slender frame and no body hair. They are often stereotyped as being self absorbed (urbandictionary.com.) A variation on twink that one might also hear about is "twunk," which is essentially a muscular twink.

As society and gay culture evolves, more names get added to the list each with their own defining characteristics and ideals of attractiveness. Body image amongst the gay male community is certainly not a simple concept and continues to change. As research begins to keep up with growing subcultures and more data is collected regarding body image, educational and clinical interventions might also evolve to combat some of the pervasive body dissatisfaction and eating disorders within the community.