What Are Influences of Male Body Dissatisfaction?

One common aspect that all causes of male body dysmorphia have is the sociological interaction that is involved. In one way or form, men are required to interact with the micro and macro level of society. The dissatisfied individual can be influenced by their family and peers. Parents tend to transmit sociocultural messages regarding body image to adolescent boys: fathers have a strong influence in dieting and exercising while mothers have a greater influence on their son’s attitude. The individuals’ peers are often compelled to uphold gender norms and expectations and victimize non-masculine conforming men. The sexual orientation of a guy often determines the type of dissatisfaction he will experience. Heterosexual men generally gain an urge to comply with the masculine norm to “bulk up”; whereas, homosexual men are associated with feminine traits and tend to “slim down.” Men are also subjected to the sociocultural standard that the media has establi shed. The ideal male body displayed in media tends to be tall, muscular, broad-shouldered, strong, fit, handsome, and V-shaped. Every man will react differently to the ideal male body because of the diverse interpretation media has on the set standard. Media is the most influential cause of body dissatisfaction for men because of the strict representation of men. Every glossy page of a magazine or lit-up screen contains the same male figure. There is little diversity in the use of men in media and as well in the interpretation of men in any form. It is hard to escape the influences of body dissatisfaction when those same pressures surround the individual. Especially when society disassociates body image struggles with males.

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