Body+Image+of+American+Men


 * Men in the United States **

A brief browsing through popular U.S. men’s magazines such as [|Men’s Fitness], [|Men’s Health], [|GQ] and [|Complex] can provide an outsider with a fairly blatant view of the body ideal for men in the U.S. Most magazines feature tall, strong, muscular and masculine men all outfitted with the coveted “V” that signals zero body fat and ultimate sexiness. Over the years, this body ideal for men in the states has become increasingly more muscular (Daniel & Bridges, 2013). As such, this can certainly open the door for body image issues among men. Body image is a term typically and historically associated with women (Burlew & Shurts, 2013). However, this shift toward a more muscular physique for men has led to increased rates of body dissatisfaction (Murray & Lewis, 2014). This all occurs within a context of a dominant, hegemonic society, where masculinity refers only to a strict, rigid definition that leaves little to no room for non-conformity. As popular as U.S. media and representations of beauty are around the world, these depictions may also lead to dangerous behaviors to uphold these standards even among men.



 The ideal body type for men in the U.S. consists of a lean, muscular physique with broad shoulders, a slim waist and a taller stature (Daniel & Bridges, 2013). This body ideal is held to such a high standard among U.S. men that an Adonis complex has emerged along with a culture of “muscularity” (Watkins, Christie, & Chally, 2008). With this culture comes an experience and manifestation of body image issues among men (Burlew & Shurts, 2013). Men are constantly bombarded with images of chiseled Adonis-like figures both in media representations and in sociocultural expectations (Burlew & Shurts, 2013). One study conducted by Daniel and Bridges (2013) found that a more muscular, masculine physique was highly correlated with higher self-esteem. This may mean that men, who feel their bodies represent the dominant expectations, feel better about themselves because they can meet such standards. Research also demonstrates that unlike women, who are more concerned with beauty and image, men associate this body ideal with performance and the ability to “act” like a man (Murray & Lewis, 2014). Therefore, this body ideal goes beyond physical appearance for many men, and translates into their ability to actually act as a man, which seems to have a much deeper meaning since it is associated with an aspect of who they are.
 * Body Ideal **

Read "[|Six-Pack Stress]" to find out more about the pressure men endure to obtain the perfect body.



 The cultural shift in body expectations for men has led to an increase in body-image issues such as anorexia, bulimia, steroid usage, depression and excessive weight-lifting (Burlew and Shurts, 2013). According to the same authors, men often express body-image dissatisfaction through the desire to lose weight and gain muscle or gain muscle and weight with the end goal of obtaining the coveted “Adonis” body type. However, since body image issues have mostly been attributed to women, men are often ashamed to report their dissatisfaction for fear of appearing feminine (Burlew and Shurts, 2013). This highlights the inherent problem with the dominant perspective on masculinity as it creates conflict within itself by setting unrealistic standards. The concept of gender role conflict, which refers to the conflict that is created as a result of rigid, traditional masculine roles, is highly correlated with body dissatisfaction in U.S. men (Murray & Lewis, 2014). Men, who express body dissatisfaction due to a lack of muscularity, may then experience this gender conflict, as they may not seem themselves as “real” men. Therefore, body image for U.S. men is far more serious than surface-level muscles, broad shoulders and a trim physique.
 * Body Dissatisfaction **

Learn more about why men never discuss body image in this [|Huffington Post article].

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 Despite the hardened, masculine appearance and disposition of many U.S. men, there exist some serious vulnerability. Working with this population may mean looking beyond the exterior while also understanding that there is a predominant sense of shame around the issue of body image in men. It may also mean that educators and practitioners could be met with resistance and defensiveness since masculinity is a closely guarded sense of self for many. Understanding the hegemonic, sociocultural “rules” and standards is extremely helpful. Additionally, practitioners and educators need to be aware that body issues for men and women are different, and require a different approach. Men, particularly those who see themselves as traditionally masculine, do not want to be compared to women. Therefore, education and intervention normally used for women may not be appropriate for this population.
 * Intercultural Competence **

References

Burlew, L. D., & Shurts, W. (2013). Men and body image: Current issues and

 Counseling implications. Journal of Counseling & Development, 91(4)

 428-435. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6676.2013.00114.x

Daniel, S., & Bridges, S. K. (2013). The relationships among body image, masculinity,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> and sexual satisfaction in men. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 14(4),

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> 345-351. doi:10.1037/a0029154

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Murray, T., & Lewis, V. (2014). Gender-role conflict and men’s body satisfaction: The

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> moderating role of age. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 15(1), 40-48. doi:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> 10.1037/a0030959

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Watkins, J. A., Christie, C., & Chally, P. (2008). Relationship between body image and

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> body mass index in college men. Journal of American College Health, 57(1),

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;"> 95-100.