Download - Historical Adonis
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
What about these topics? Male Body Image
Self esteem
Media
Has it changed
Based on men’s or women’s views
Types and attitudes
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
But, says Dr. M. Kimmela known male feminist sociologist
Men have a codeWe don’t complain
Rule #1 Give ‘em hell
Rule#2 Strong like oak
Rule #3 No sissy stuff
Rule#4 Be a big wheel
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
What has happened historically? 1940s- John Wayne 1950s- Burt
Lancaster 1960s- Steve
McQueen 1970s- Burt
Reynolds
No real body sculpting
Just Burly, barrel chested and hairy guys
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
What are these differences? Sculpting Hair removal Self conscious
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
We now have 2 competing looks ,thanks to G.Q. and Men’s
Health: Slender, sculpted
and feminine
Example:Brad----?
Pumped up, but lean
Example: Nicholas C---?
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Concern with bulk and muscle definition exercise addictions, diet extremism and various behavioral disorders
One theory: We take our style and identity cues from gay culture !
First, slender was in … Post AIDs, Buff is in! Yahoo!! We still got hairless!!!
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Rates of Body Dissatisfaction have Escalated!
1997 45% US men dissatisfied with their muscle tone
1972 ½ as many!!!!
Today, 50 million guys don’t like themselves! (Garner, D.M.) in Psychology Today “Body Image Survey”
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
We now have DSM4 diagnosed syndromes Weightlifting and exercise
compulsions BDD Eating disorders Steroid abuse
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
A Double BindMedia hotties(males )Industry
promotion –Hair stuff, diet aids,Fitness stuffTaboo to self
criticizeSecrecy
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Sources of our obsessions?
Genetic component (OCD)
Psychological component (rearing/ environment)
Society and media
Assuming a bunch of guys have a disposition towards
OCD…….
Examine first the psychological component
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Our Masculinity is Threatened Women with more
power More status More identity Sexual choice Poor sources of
male identity Few male models
Only our bodies may be strong
So –strut your stuff
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Lost status as 1) breadwinners
2) fighters
3) protectors
4) unquestioned sexual experts
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
other psychological reason for obsessions on body image:
Locker room embarrassment and male bonding issues
Younger men exhibit lower comfort with nudity than us old guys
(Pope in his book)
Male friends are instrumental in influencing body image concerns
( McCabe in J. Soc. Psychol. Feb.2003)
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Even boys’ toys are impossible to emulate G.I Joe has increased his biceps,
proportional to a man from 12 inch to a 15 inch to a 16 1/2 inch around!
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Preoccupation with our own playboyification Lynne Luciano in “Looking Good:
Male Body Image in Modern America” July 2001
Her idea that our “body trap” is a function of not mortality, nor feminism, but a triumph of consumerism.
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Post WW2 The playboyification of men lead to
elevation of personality over accomplishment.
The body= just another asset.
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
The Media: another possible cause of our body focus? MagazinesMen’s Health=
circulation in 7 years from 250,000 ( 1990)
1,5000,000 (1997)
Movies
Videos
Music check out Lenny
Kravitz’s Abs
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
These men in film, in video, in life May have had one of (1996) 690,361 cosmetic surgical
procedures!
May be “roided” to the heavens with “T”
March/2003 Presented by Dr. Brian
Witkov
Male Body Image Self esteem damaged by media,
family structural deficits, rearing,lack of ability to deal with more “in charge” women and feminism.
Some have genetic predisposition to body image preoccupation.