No Pain No (weight) Gain

I feel as though some men have become more focused on their body image, and this is perhaps a modern development, media playing a role and accentuated the gym culture. Some men are now more then ever striving to be fit, assuming this is the road to desirability and attractiveness. It has prompted, in some ways a healthy outlook on life, but in others, an obsession that takes over. The gym culture has lead way to the thinking that, you have to have muscles and build to be a ‘mans man’, being slim and having a bit of meat on you, presents a child like aspect. Muscles means being a man, being an adult. This in turn can lead to other factors, like strict dieting.

Traditional body image wasn't a main priority, it was often seen as the bigger you are, the better, more wealthy. As mentioned in the segment ‘absence of food’, being skinny was a give away of your status and class, no wealthy man was skinny, having meat on you was a sign of wealth and some believed fertility. If a woman managed to get a man who had meat, the offspring would be strong. However, presently the roles seem to have reversed dramatically. Men with toned bodies are now the representation of the ordinary man in adverts and TV shows. Now according to media and social media, muscles and a great figure are all you need in life to be happy. If you have those qualities you are guaranteed an amazing life. But at what cost? Is deluding ones self to this matter going to help them in life, believing that appearance is more important then the person themselves. There never seems to be a middle ground, even nowadays, my example being Megan Trainers song ‘All about that base’, it glorifies people with some curves, yet also says that skinny girls are unattractive, what man would want a skinny person.