Male Body Image: The Construction of the Perfect Body in the Twentieth Century

Author: jaredchomyc Page 1 of 2

Research Paper

Jared Chomyc

Male Body Image: The Construction of the Perfect Body in the Twentieth Century

History 4250

Dr. Tracy Penny Light

29 March 2018

 

Body image is a topic that men are not allowed to talk about. At least that was the common idea during most of the twentieth century. Insecurity is not something that is linked to traditional masculinity. As a result, men being concerned with the look of their bodies was not accepted. With this in mind, it is easy to see how many men were under pressure when Pumping Iron was first released. Men saw this as further evidence to the fact that to achieve true masculinity, they must be strong and fit. This film brought body building to the forefront and it also helped to increase body dissatisfaction in many men. In order to fully understand how men have coped with their growing dissatisfaction in body image, there are three primary areas to examine. First, the historiography of how a man should look and how that culminated in the documentary Pumping Iron. Secondly, the way in which boys and young men are influenced by marketing and media and how this can lead to unhealthy behaviour. Finally, the way in which men and women have struggled with body image. The only way to fully understand how men became so dissatisfied with their bodies is to start with the beginning, in this case that means the start of the twentieth century.

The roaring twenties were a tumultuous period in history. As a result, the twenties helped to develop traditional ideas of how a man should look. In Cynthia Comacchio’s article, she highlights how many young men during this time period became “objects of study”[1]. In the time period Comacchio is studying, there was a growing emphasis on “’manliness’”[2]. Furthermore, adults were concerned with young boys achieving “physical strength and dominance”[3]. Comacchio’s article shows exactly how men are taught from a young age, that there is a link between body image and being a man. It also shows how long men having been struggling with body dissatisfaction. If these issues began to formulate in the twenties, then they had over fifty years to ruminate and reach a breaking point when Pumping Iron was released in 1977. Lynne Luciano shares this outlook when she states that “the 1970’s represent the locus of change”[4]. Furthermore, Luciano states that the 70’s had less of a focus on physical health and more of an emphasis on “’looking good’”[5]. This shows how men were inclined not to pursue exercise as a means to bolster their physical health, instead they used weight lifting and other exercise as a way of fitting a societal ideal. Men are intrinsically linked to society’s ideas of how they should look and this is exemplified in the 70’s when there was a focus on “masculine power through muscularity and on developing strength and vigor through exercise”[6]. These two articles, help build a framework for the ways in which men have become obsessed with their physical appearance. Comacchio shows how in the early stages of the twenties, boys were being forced into society’s ideas of how the male body should look. Luciano takes the idea of male body image and shows how the 70’s saw an increasing interest in “bodybuilding and weight-lifting”[7], which was no doubt aided by the release of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s documentary Pumping Iron.

The documentary Pumping Iron became so popular, that Arnold Schwarzenegger was able to launch a career in film after it’s release. As a result, many men became obsessed with making their bodies look like Arnold’s. The documentary presented men with a new way of viewing their bodies. Now not only would a man need to display physical strength, but they would also have to look the part. In this case, it meant putting on hundreds of pounds of muscle. For a lot of young men this meant the use of anabolic steroids. At one point in the documentary Arnold comments on how he wants to ensure that “everything is perfect”[8] in regards to his body. The term “perfect”[9] suggests that his body is something to aspire to and as a result it left many men feeling dissatisfied with how they look. Furthermore, the film presents many young men who are looking up to Arnold. One of the up and coming body builders goes as far as to say “That’s the way I want to look”[10]. This young man is a great example of how many men were feeling, although he is already in good shape, he is seeking to associate himself with the idea of a body without flaws. In the film, Arnold also explains how bodybuilding is a way of “judging the body by muscularity and proportion”[11]. This shows the common attitude of Arnold and many bodybuilders at this time. There is a sense that men’s bodies are constantly being judged by their muscular physique. By extension, any man with a less than ideal muscle mass, will feel unhappy with how they look. The ideal body mass and image, is also personified by Reid Schindle, the man who won the 1979 Mr. Canada competition. An article published in Maclean’s, gives precise measurements for an ideal body, going as far as to say having these measurements would be a “reward”[12] to any man. Furthermore, Schindle himself comments on how a man that he admired had a “’chest that was absolutely massive’”[13] and how Schindle wanted to “’look like that one day’”[14]. Schindle’s comments are important, because they demonstrate the thought process of many young boys and how they can be influenced from a young age, specifically in regards to masculinity and body image. The aftermath of Pumping Iron, resulted in a widespread interest in gyms and physical health. At the same time, the film inspired research into why men feel insecure about their body image.

During the 1980’s there was a surge of interest in becoming physically fit. Which was undoubtedly influenced by Pumping Iron and the long standing ideals of traditional masculinity. In a CBC clip the Peter Mansbridge comments on how “business at health clubs has never been more robust”[15]. What also comes with this renewed interest in fitness, is a renewed interest in the body as a reflection of masculinity. In the article published by Mishkind and his colleagues, they focus on how men “change their physical appearance and come closer to the masculine ideal”[16]. These two sources help to provide a start for the overall interest in the relationship between men and body image. In the same article they comment on how a study they conducted showed that “95%”[17] of men in college were dissatisfied with “some aspect of their bodies”[18]. The study goes on to say that the specific areas that men have an issue with are their “chest, weight and waist”[19]. This quote highlights how men during the eighties were dissatisfied with either their extra weight or the muscularity of their bodies. This was no doubt influenced by the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron. It would be different if men were concerned with losing weight but the Mishkind et al. article suggest that men are also concerned with their “arms”[20] and also their “shoulders”[21], which leads towards the idea that men are concerned with muscle mass in this area. Furthermore, an overwhelming amount of men wanted to have a “muscular mesomorphic”[22] body type or more commonly known as the “’muscleman’”[23]. This type of body is characterized by “well-developed chest and arm muscles”[24] and a “narrow waist”[25]. This makes sense, as it lines up with the typical V-shape body, that bodybuilders of the time promoted. From these statistics, it is easy to see how man men were becoming dissatisfied with their appearance. The average man was struggling to meet the ideals of his time period and as a result, a larger amount of men were reporting body dissatisfaction. In addition, men were concerned that not having the ideal body type, would lead to losing out on the “benefits”[26] that muscular men had available to them. The frightening reality is that this is not an idea that is trapped inside the mind of men. Instead, there is a large amount of evidence that supports the fact that “physical appearance is so important generally in our society”[27]. Furthermore, there is evidence that muscular men have the highest rate of benefits in society. Mishkind et al. suggest that this is because muscular men are intrinsically linked to “cultural views of masculinity and the male sex role”[28]. This idea harkens back to Comacchio’s work, that emphasized the strong man’s important role in society. Also, the idea that a muscular man can do better sexually and with interpersonal relationships, is extremely intimidating for the average man and any young boy growing up. This suggests that only the “hunk of man”[29] that Ferrigno’s father comments on, can be successful both sexually and within interpersonal relationships. A muscular man is also characterized as “self-confident, and unemotional”[30], which is precisely the type of thinking, that put men in the situation they have been apart of since the 1920’s. At this point in history, men have been taught that the strong, confident man does not show any sign of emotion. Specifically, body image issues would not be discussed as women are the sex that should be “concerned with their appearance”[31] not men. This attitude towards body image, would lead to the massive amount of research that has been put forth since the 1980’s. Mishkind et al. also state that men in the 1980’s are feeling more dissatisfied with their bodies “than they did even two decades ago”[32]. This could also be a result of men being aware of the fact that “the burden of illness has shifted from infectious diseases to cardiovascular disorders”[33] and how many of these can be prevented “through behaviour change”[34]. So in this way, men could exercise and possibly prevent heart disease, also exercising may have been a way for men to contest the illness they are supposedly a part of. The research of Mishkind et al. and others during the late seventies and throughout the eighties, helped to foster the amazing amount of research that was put forth in the nineties. Specifically, to do with male body image in young men and also the relationship between male body image and female body image.

The nineties were an everchanging time and as a result, male body image was beginning to be studied and examined in depth. The growth of healthism and the move towards a new millennium, was no doubt influential in this growing interest. As Harrison G. Pope and his colleagues highlight “a growing body of literature has described disorders of body image among men”[35]. Their article talks about a new term called “muscle dysmorphia”[36] which is described as “an obsessional preoccupation with their muscularity”[37]. Pope et al. even goes as far as to say that this disorder can lead to men ignoring “important social and family relationships”[38] so that they can achieve their perfect body type. Furthermore, Pope et al. comment on how men are constantly being exposed to “muscular male images”[39] in all of their media which include “magazines”[40] and “motion pictures”[41]. All of this research by Pope et al. suggests that they are deeply in tune with the social and cultural realities of the 1990’s. Furthermore, they are clearly aware of the growing distance between how a man looks and how he feels he should look. Pope et al. choose to focus their study specifically on young boys and how their idea of the ideal male body image are influenced by “action toys”[42].

In order for Pope et al. to prove their point they purchased action figures “over a period of 20 years”[43]. They did this in a hope to prove how young boys were being shown what a man should look like from a young age. What they found was that “the earliest figure had no visible abdominal muscles”[44]. Whereas, the contemporary example had the “sharply rippled abdominals of an advanced bodybuilder”[45]. Furthermore, they also found that many of the new figures had “serratus muscles along his ribs”[46] which are seen in “bodybuilders but less often visible in ordinary men”[47]. All this evidence shows how society has shifted it’s ideas around men and their ideal body image. The old action figures had little to no muscle mass whereas, the new figures if adjusted to a normal size man, would have “larger biceps than any bodybuilder in history”[48]. This study is also not naïve about how “boyhood exposure to muscular ideals”[49] is not the only factor that could lead to the development of male body image in men. However, as the article says “the impact of toys should not be underestimated”[50]. Pope et al. are on the right track, because they understand that although action figures are only one aspect for a growing disorder among men, they are nonetheless very important in showing how young boys can be  influenced by their society. This article also touches on how many young men use anabolic steroids to enhance their bodies. Which is also the subject of the article that Drewnowski et al. published in 1994.

One of the more disturbing realities of an increase in dissatisfaction with the male body, is that many young men turn to steroid use in order to put on muscle mass. The various health risks that are associated with steroid use, are enough to make it a serious concern that so many young men have turned to using steroids in everyday life. In Pope et al. they highlight how many young men who were insecure about their body image would “use anabolic steroids or other performance enhancing drugs”[51]. Similarly, in the Drewnowski et al. article they comment on how “concerns with body image might predispose young men to use anabolic steroids”[52]. This shows a growing use of steroids among men from the ages of 18-25. At this point, it is next to impossible to deny the effect that media and the documentary Pumping Iron has had on the successive generations of young men. Furthermore, Drewnowski et al. conducted a study that showed “40%”[53] of young men “wished to weight more than their current weight”[54]. Their study contributed this need to bulk up on the “media emphasis on muscular build”[55]. As a result of the media’s influence to male body image there has also been an increase in “the use of anabolic steroids”[56]. The sad fact is that this study was performed in 1993, so these stats have most likely increased, since the emphasis on the muscular male body image has not gone away. At the time of the study between “3% and 12% of male high-school students had used anabolic steroids”[57]. Furthermore, a study conducted with the same age group found that “46% expressed a desire to weigh more than their current weight”[58] also “28% reported exercising weekly or more often”[59]. As a result, young men are using unhealthy means to reach a social construction of male body image. The Edwards and Launder article also comments on the relationship between “anabolic steroid use”[60]and “disturbance in body image”[61]. Edward and Launder also comment on the similarities between men and women in relation to body image. They do this by saying “underweight males suffer from poor self-image to at least the same extent as overweight females”[62]. In the same way that women suffer from bulimia and anorexia in order to lose weight, men use steroids to support their own idea of the “perfect body”[63].

Caroline Davis et al. are concerned with the appearance anxiety that has become prevalent in both young men and women. They attribute this to a growing need that society has to be “highly in tune with matters of fitness and health”[64]. The Davis et al. article shows how historically, there has always been a focus on woman and body image. They state as much when they say “studies have been directed almost entirely to female samples”[65]. This suggests the inability for men to talk about their bodies, until research became more prominent in the eighties. Davis et al. also comments on how the “increasing number of weight rooms and fitness facilities”[66] has contributed to the male muscle mass ideal. Which is similar to the idea that the CBC article put forward. Both sources directly correlate the growth of fitness centers, with the underlying idea that men are becoming more insecure about their bodies. The article also speaks to the “recreational use of anabolic steroids for enhancing muscle development”[67]. This is yet another example of a scholarly article, that is focused on how anxiety over appearance can lead to the use of steroids in young men. This idea is also present in an article published in Maclean’s in 1999, it focuses on a thirty year old man named Ralph Heighton, who is not satisfied with the way he looks. In the Maclean’s article, Heighton comments on how “’the magazines sort of force this body image on you’”[68]. He also has a very key insight into the male psyche. Heighton says “’whether we want to admit it or not, this image is what we want to look like’”[69]. At this point, Heighton is suggesting that many men may not speak publicly about their bodies. However, that does not mean that they are not facing similar issues. The article comments on “the steroid use”[70] of many young teenagers, in order to put on the muscle that they think is necessary to achieve their image of perfection. Throughout all these articles, there is a common theme of young men using steroids to fit the body image that has been presented to them through toys, media, and older generations. Up to this point the research has been focused on men. However, in order to fully understand men’s issues with body image, it is important to look at how women deal with the same issues.

Because the study of men’s body image is a relatively new field, it is beneficial to focus on how women have handled their feelings towards their bodies and self-image. Generally speaking, most of the articles acknowledge the fact that both sexes suffer from dissatisfaction with their bodies. However, many of the studies note that in some cases, women have shown more unhappiness with how they look. For example, Caroline Davis and Michael Cowles suggest that generally “women idealize and covet an ultraslender body”[71]. They go on to say that college age women want to be “thinner than they perceive themselves to be”[72]. Women’s ideal body image tends to be much thinner than what they currently weigh. Whereas, men want to gain muscle mass to fit their ideal body image. Davis and Cowles point out that fact as well when they state that “younger men”[73] want to “gain weight”[74]. At this point, the parallels between men and women are clear. Men seek to gain weight and women seek to lose it, through dieting and sometimes unhealthy disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. Jennifer L. Muth and Thomas F. Cash also comment on how women are unhappy with their weight. In their study they found that women had a “negative evaluation of their overall appearance and reported weight preoccupation”[75]. They also recognize the role that society has in shaping women’s perceived body image, when they state that “cultural norms and expectations lead girls and women to be attentive to and psychologically invested in their physical aesthetics”[76]. Similarly, Karen McDonald and J. Kevin Thompson comment on how many “women exercised more for weight control reasons than men”[77]. Generally speaking then, what can be determined through this evidence, is that most women are seeking to lose weight because of pressure from marketing, media and societal influences. The last thing these articles discuss is the crossover that men and women have in regards to body image ideals.

After this research, it should be obvious that men and women have very different ideas about how their bodies should look. However, there are similarities in the fact that both men and women have these issues. Davis and Cowles point out that “80% in each group reported a desire to change their current weight”[78]. Also, McDonald and Thomson illustrate that “exercising for weight, tone, and, to a lesser degree, for attractiveness reasons is positively connected to eating disturbance and body image dissatisfaction for both genders”[79]. Furthermore, in the study conducted by Michael A. Friedman et al. they found that “marital discord is significantly related to body image disturbance”[80]. They also state that “a poor body image may result in sexual difficulties or avoidance of social situations”[81]. All this evidence, supports how both men and women struggle with maintaining a body image ideal, that is forced upon them by society. Furthermore, body image dissatisfaction can lead to troubles within a marriage, as one partner may feel uncomfortable about how they look. This can lead to sexual frustration, social anxiety and potentially even divorce. However, the fact that these studies are being performed, means that humanity is looking for a way to fix the unrealistic standards that have been put onto both men and women. Finally, after the vast history of how men wound up feeling so anxious and unhappy with how they look, it is important to look at a more modern example to see if these ideals have changed.

The final article that speaks about male body image in a more modern sense, is Ellexis Boyle’s article about one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s books. In this way, history has come full circle to again reflect on the self-made man, that was the subject of the documentary Pumping Iron. In the article, Boyle comments on how Arnold promoted an idea of “masculine physical perfection”[82]. Boyle also states that Arnold’s influence helped society in “consuming male bodies in ways similar to the objectification of women”[83]. Which is probably the most important quote so far, as it shows exactly how men have come to form their ideas about body image. Furthermore, Boyle’s comments also help to solidify the idea that men and women are being objectified publicly in the same way. Both men and women are currently suffering from an inability to negotiate with how they view themselves. Unfortunately, although the means by which many celebrities and athletes achieve these bodies, are not necessarily unhealthy, the way that they are marketed, leads to a reality wherein many men are dissatisfied with how they look.

In conclusion, men are still struggling with how to deal with body image and how modern society defines that idea. However, men have come a long way from the stoicism of the early twenties. The emergence of bodybuilding in the late seventies and then the numerous amount of research that came as a result is extremely positive. Because of this renewed interest in male body image, many studies were conducted in the nineties that led to a new focus on male adolescents struggling with anxiety and how to define themselves as men. Furthermore, there was a new interest in how men and women differed in their approach to exercise and how they looked at body image ideals. These studies conducted in the nineties, also shed a light on male steroid use as a result of young men trying to fit in. Overall, the struggle for men to define what their body should look like is not over yet. However, today there is more emphasis on the subject of men and their bodies than ever before. As a result, hopefully men of all ages can learn to put more effort into staying healthy and less effort into achieving a social construction of what the male body should look like.

[1] Cynthia Comacchio, “The Rising Generation: Laying Claim to the Health of Adolescents in English Canada, 1920-70,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 19, (2002): 142.

[2] Cynthia Comacchio, “The Rising Generation: Laying Claim to the Health of Adolescents in English Canada, 1920-70,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 19, (2002): 142.

[3] Cynthia Comacchio, “The Rising Generation: Laying Claim to the Health of Adolescents in English Canada, 1920-70,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 19, (2002): 142.

[4] Lynne Luciano, “Looking Good: A Social History of Male Body Image in Postwar America, 1950-1990” (PhD diss., University of Southern California, 1997), 7.

[5] Lynne Luciano, “Looking Good: A Social History of Male Body Image in Postwar America, 1950-1990” (PhD diss., University of Southern California, 1997), 1.

[6] Lynne Luciano, “Looking Good: A Social History of Male Body Image in Postwar America, 1950-1990” (PhD diss., University of Southern California, 1997), 18.

[7] Lynne Luciano, “Looking Good: A Social History of Male Body Image in Postwar America, 1950-1990” (PhD diss., University of Southern California, 1997), 18.

[8] Pumping Iron, Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore (1977; San Francisco, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002), DVD.

[9] Pumping Iron, Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore (1977; San Francisco, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002), DVD.

[10] Pumping Iron, Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore (1977; San Francisco, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002), DVD.

[11] Pumping Iron, Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore (1977; San Francisco, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002), DVD.

[12] Peter Carlyle-Gordge, “Being Mr. Canada is Not Quite Enough,” Maclean’s, January 22, 1979, 6.

[13] Peter Carlyle-Gordge, “Being Mr. Canada is Not Quite Enough,” Maclean’s, January 22, 1979, 6.

[14] Peter Carlyle-Gordge, “Being Mr. Canada is Not Quite Enough,” Maclean’s, January 22, 1979, 6

[15] Peter Mansbridge, Fitness Craze Sweeps the Nation. Television, 2:07. February 25, 1984. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/fitness-craze-sweeps-the-nation.

[16] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 546.

[17] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 546.

[18] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 546.

[19] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 546.

[20] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 546.

[21] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 546.

[22] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 547.

[23] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 547.

[24] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 547.

[25] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 547.

[26] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 547.

[27] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 547.

[28] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 549.

[29] Pumping Iron, Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore (1977; San Francisco, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002), DVD.

[30] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 549.

[31] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 545.

[32] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 554.

[33] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 555.

[34] Marc E. Mishkind, et al. “The Embodiment of Masculinity,” American Behavioural Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 555.

[35] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[36] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 66.

[37] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[38] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[39] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[40] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[41] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[42] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 65.

[43] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 67.

[44] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 67.

[45] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 67.

[46] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 67.

[47] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 67.

[48] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 68.

[49] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 71.

[50] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 71.

[51] Harrison G. Pope, Jr, et al. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (May 1998): 66.

[52] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[53] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[54] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[55] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[56] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[57] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[58] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 385.

[59] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 385.

[60] Stephen Edwards and Catherine Launder, “Investigating Muscularity Concerns in Male Body Image: Development of the Swansea Muscularity Attitudes Questionnaire,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 28, (2000): 120.

[61] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[62] Adam Drewnowski, et al. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 382.

[63] Caroline Davis, et al. “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men,” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 64.

[64] Caroline Davis, et al. “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men,” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 64.

[65] Caroline Davis, et al. “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men,” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 64.

[66] Caroline Davis, et al. “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men,” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 71.

[67]Caroline Davis, et al. “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men,” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 64.

[68] Susan McClelland, “The Lure of the Body Image,” Maclean’s, February 22, 1999, 38.

[69] Susan McClelland, “The Lure of the Body Image,” Maclean’s, February 22, 1999, 38.

[70] Susan McClelland, “The Lure of the Body Image,” Maclean’s, February 22, 1999, 38.

[71] Caroline Davis and Michael Cowles, “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women,” Sex Roles 25 no.1/2 (1991): 34.

[72] Caroline Davis and Michael Cowles, “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women,” Sex Roles 25 no.1/2 (1991): 34.

[73] Caroline Davis and Michael Cowles, “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women,” Sex Roles 25 no.1/2 (1991): 40.

[74] Caroline Davis and Michael Cowles, “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women,” Sex Roles 25 no.1/2 (1991): 40.

[75] Jennifer L. Muth and Thomas F. Cash, “Body-Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?,” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 27, no.16 (1997): 1439.

[76] Jennifer L. Muth and Thomas F. Cash, “Body-Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?,” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 27, no.16 (1997): 1439.

[77] Karen McDonald and J. Kevin Thompson, “Eating Disturbance, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Reasons for Exercising: Gender Differences and Correlational Findings,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 11, no.3 (1992): 289.

[78] Caroline Davis and Michael Cowles, “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women,” Sex Roles 25 no.1/2 (1991): 40.

[79] Karen McDonald and J. Kevin Thompson, “Eating Disturbance, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Reasons for Exercising: Gender Differences and Correlational Findings,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 11, no.3 (1992): 291.

[80]Michael A. Friedman et al. “Marital Status, Marital Satisfaction, and Body Image Dissatisfaction,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (1999): 84.

[81] Michael A. Friedman et al. “Marital Status, Marital Satisfaction, and Body Image Dissatisfaction,” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (1999): 84.

[82] Ellexis Boyle, “ Marketing Muscular Masculinity in Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder,” Journal of Gender Studies 19, no.2 (June 2010): 153.

[83] Ellexis Boyle, “Marketing Muscular Masculinity in Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder,” Journal of Gender Studies 19, no.2 (June 2010): 164.

 

Bibliography

Boyle, Ellexis. “Marketing Muscular Masculinity in Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder.” Journal of Gender Studies 19, no.2 (June 2010): 153-166.

Butler, George and Robert Fiore, dir. Pumping Iron. 1977; San Francisco, CA: Warner Home Video, 2002. DVD.

Carlyle-Gordge, Peter. “Being Mr. Canada is Not Quite Enough.” Maclean’s, January 22, 1979.

Comacchio, Cynthia. “The Rising Generation: Laying Claim the Health of Adolescents in English  Canada, 1920-70.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 19, (2002): 139-178.

Davis, Caroline, Howard Brewer, and Marc Weinstein. “A Study of AppearanceAnxiety in Young Men.” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 63-74.

Davis, Caroline, and Michael Cowles. “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships Between Physically Active Men and Women.” Sex Roles 25, no.1/2 (1991): 33-44.

Drewnowski, Adam, Candace L. Kurth, and Dean D. Krahn. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 381-386.

Edwards, Stephen, and Catherine Launder. “Investigating Muscularity Concerns in Male Body Image: Development of the Swansea Muscularity Attitudes Questionnaire.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 28, (2000): 120-124.

Friedman Michael A., Amy E. Dixon, Kelly D. Brownell, Mark A. Whisman, and Denise E. Wilfley.  “Marital Status, Marital Satisfaction, and Body Image Dissatisfaction.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (1999): 81-85.

Janelli, Linda M. “Are There Body Image Differences Between Older Men and Women?.” Western Journal of Nursing Research 15, no.3 (1993): 327-339.

Luciano, Lynne. “Looking Good: A Social History of Male Body Image in Postwar America, 1950-1990” PhD diss., University of Southern California, 1997.

Mansbridge, Peter. Fitness Craze Sweeps the Nation. Television, 2:07. February 25, 1984. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/fitness-craze-sweeps-the-nation.

McClelland, Susan. “The Lure of the Male Body Image.” Maclean’s, February 22, 1999.

McDonald, Karen, and J. Kevin Thompson. “Exercise Disturbance, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Reasons for Exercising: Gender Differences and Correlational Findings.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 11, no.3 (1992): 289-292.

Mishkind, Marc E., Judith Rodin, Lisa R. Silberstein, and Ruth H. Striegel-Moore. “The Embodiment of Masculinity.” American Behavioral Scientist 29, no.5 (May/June 1986): 545-562.

Muth, Jennifer L., and Thomas F. Cash. “Body-Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?.” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 27, no.16 (1997): 1438-1452.

Pope Jr., Harrison G., Roberto Olivardia, Amanda Gruber, and John Borowiecki. “Evolving Ideal of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26, (1999): 65-72.

 

An example of modern men who want to have the “perfect male physique”

Reading Log #7

Reading Log #7

In this week’s readings, there was a focus on contesting the ideals of both society, and the medical profession. In Anika Stafford’s article, she focuses on elementary school students, who are challenging the social norms of their community. For example, one young girl who does not feel comfortable playing the game with his peers decides to tell them that “’anyone can play any part’”[1]. This is a simple example of one student taking a role that she is supposed to play, and flipping it on it’s head. This encouraged some of the other girls to play in the boy roles in the game and vice versa. Another example in Stafford’s article is that of the young child named Duncan who displays violent behavior such as “lashing out, throwing objects at students, yelling, and running away”[2]. However, once this young boy admitted that sometimes he felt “’like a girl inside’”[3], he was much less violent and much more likely to engage in activities with his fellow classmates. Stafford gives multiple examples of kids who are standing up against societal beliefs and ideals. In this way, these children are becoming powerful voices of change in society. Similarly, Tracy Penny-Light focuses on how many individuals contested illness and challenged the ideals of the medical profession. One particular example in Penny-Light’s work is close to my own experiences as a bullied child. Therefore, I understand the need for the young boy who has “ gynecomastia”[4] and how he would want to have cosmetic surgery that would allow him to fit in and prevent kids from calling him “’half-man, half-woman’”[5]. Another example that Penny-Light provides is that of the woman who informs her doctor that “’God placed me on this earth with two breasts and He will take me away with them’”[6]. As Penny-Light highlights the woman had a genuine reason to receive the surgery, namely to “prevent the spread of cancer”[7], she chose instead to live by her own means and contest the traditional medical procedure. These examples help to show how many men and women in the twentieth century, were beginning to stand up for themselves and tell the medical professionals what they needed, which oftentimes did not coincide with what the doctor prescribed. This was a way for Canadians to stand up against the authority and ideals of their time, and have their own voice in their healthcare. Similar to this, are the children in Stafford’s article, who choose to stand up against their communities ideas of gender and social norms. In both readings for this week, there were examples of Canadian adults and children defining and contesting illness as well as standing up against the authority and ideals of their society.

In my own readings for this week, I went over every article that I have picked out, and as a result I was able to sort them into key categories, that helped to shape my paper as a whole. What I found was that a vast majority of my articles were either focused on a certain time period i.e. the 70’s or 80’s or were focused on specific issues like the use of anabolic steroids in adolescent men. Also, after going over the articles, I found that many of them commented on the differences that men and women had in regards to body image. Furthermore, I found some article’s from Maclean’s, that served as both primary and secondary sources. One particular article from Maclean’s, highlighted the discomfort that a thirty year old man felt with his body and it helped to give a more unique aspect to my paper that I was looking for. Overall, this week was very productive as my readings allowed me to complete my research paper.

[1] Anika Stafford, “I Feel Like a Girl Inside: Possibilities for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Early Primary School,” BC Studies no.189, (Spring 2016): 10.

[2] Anika Stafford, “I Feel Like a Girl Inside: Possibilities for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Early Primary School,” BC Studies no.189, (Spring 2016): 23.

[3] Anika Stafford, “I Feel Like a Girl Inside: Possibilities for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Early Primary School,” BC Studies no.189, (Spring 2016): 23.

[4] Tracy Penny-Light, “From Fixing to Enhancing Bodies: Shifting Ideals of Health and Gender in the Medical Discourse on Cosmetic Surgery in Twentieth Century Canada,” in Bodily Subjects, Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, ed. Tracy Penny-Light, Barbara Brooks, and Wendy Mitchinson (Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2014), 353-372.

[5] Tracy Penny-Light, “From Fixing to Enhancing Bodies: Shifting Ideals of Health and Gender in the Medical Discourse on Cosmetic Surgery in Twentieth Century Canada,” in Bodily Subjects, Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, ed. Tracy Penny-Light, Barbara Brooks, and Wendy Mitchinson (Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2014), 353-372.

[6] Tracy Penny-Light, “From Fixing to Enhancing Bodies: Shifting Ideals of Health and Gender in the Medical Discourse on Cosmetic Surgery in Twentieth Century Canada,” in Bodily Subjects, Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, ed. Tracy Penny-Light, Barbara Brooks, and Wendy Mitchinson (Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2014), 353-372.

[7] Tracy Penny-Light, “From Fixing to Enhancing Bodies: Shifting Ideals of Health and Gender in the Medical Discourse on Cosmetic Surgery in Twentieth Century Canada,” in Bodily Subjects, Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, ed. Tracy Penny-Light, Barbara Brooks, and Wendy Mitchinson (Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2014), 353-372.

Bibliography

Penny-Light, Tracy. “From Fixing to Enhancing Bodies: Shifting Ideals of Health and Gender in the Medical Discourse on Cosmetic Surgery in Twentieth Century Canada.” In Bodily Subjects, Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, edited by Tracy Penny-Light, Barbara Brooks, and Wendy Mitchinson, 353-372. Quebec: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2014.

Stafford, Anika. “I Feel Like a Girl Inside: Possibilities for Gender and Sexual Diversity in Early Primary School.” BC Studies no.189, (Spring 2016): 10-29.

Reading Log #6

Reading Log #6

In this week’s set of readings, the articles were all focused on the idea of authority and ideals of medical experts. Catherine Carstairs and Rachel Elder spoke to the rise of fluoridation in the dental profession and in public health and how there was a very vocal part of society that was against this revolution. In the chapter of Mary-Ellen Kelm’s book Colonizing Bodies, she focuses on how the Canadian government was focused on the medicalization of the indigenous people as a way to integrate them into society. Finally, Cynthia Comacchio  highlights the Canadian’s governments role in controlling the healthcare and body image ideals that children/teenagers should aspire to. After reading both articles and the book, I found that hidden in each reading was an example of people contesting illness and standing up against the medical authorities of the time period. This is interesting, because it highlights how people were constantly aware of the government’s role in society and in many cases they chose to stand up against it. Furthermore, there are suggestions in each reading that people in authoritative roles decided to speak for the entire population. In Comacchio’s article, she highlights how many young men were told that in order to be a man, a boy would have to learn to have “physical strength and dominance”[1]. Which is an ideal that is being placed on a child, who is still growing and learning what it is to be a child, let alone a man. Comacchio also talks about how doctors wanted to keep the healthcare of children to themselves and steer away from routine check-ups in schools. This points to the fact that doctors who insisted upon their authority, often neglected the patients that they should have been treating. In Kelm’s book there are also examples of how doctors mistreated their patients. Kelm states how when doctors were appointed to a certain area, they were often not concerned with the health and well-being of the indigenous community. Kelm comments on how “native people were seldom well-served”[2]. Furthermore, many doctors were simply involved for the salary or the political power that came with the position. The idea of medical authority is also highlighted in Carstairs and Elder’s article. In their article they cite a doctor who is quoted as saying “’the idea of holding plebiscites to decide on fluoridation is a lot of nonsense’”[3]. Essentially, this doctor is saying that citizens should have no voice in their own health. However, Carstairs and Elder point out that many people did not accept this viewpoint and decided to contest it. What I found interesting was that all the readings focused on the medical authority, however, in every reading there was also examples of how citizens contested this idea. Whether that be the indigenous people fighting for proper healthcare and not accepting the drunk or uncaring doctors they were left with. Or the parents and teachers who resisted the medical professionals in Comacchio’s article. Or all the “anti-fluoridationists”[4] that sprung up against the doctors and scientists pushing fluoride down the throats of Canadian citizens. I enjoyed this week’s readings, because they all highlighted the fact that humans have never been completely without agency, even when fighting with the intimidating forces of the Canadian Medical Association.

For my own readings this week, I looked at the article by Ellexis Boyle entitled “Marketing muscular masculinity in Arnold: the education of a bodybuilder”. This article is particularly relevant, because it is directly related to one of the primary sources I chose and it also highlights the effect that marketing can have on male body image. Furthermore, it comments on ideals of masculinity and how these ideas can affect a man psychologically and physically. Boyle comments on how Schwarzenegger contributed to the idea of a “physical perfection” [5] and how that relates to masculinity. In my research project, I really want to emphasize how being healthy is important, but not to the point of psychological or physical damage. I think this article will help to show how having a perfect physical physique may be attractive, but it can also cause unhealthy issues as well.

[1] Cynthia Comacchio, “The Rising Generation: Laying Claim to the Health of Adolescents in English Canada, 1920-70,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 19, (2002): 142.

[2] Mary-Ellen Kelm, Colonizing Bodies: Aboriginal Health and Healing in British Columbia, 1900-50 (Vancouver: UBC Press, 1998): 129.

[3] Catherine Carstairs, and Rachel Elder, “Expertise, Health, and Popular Opinion: Debating Water Fluoridation, 1945-80,” The Canadian Historical Review 89, no.3 (September 2008): 355.

[4] Catherine Carstairs, and Rachel Elder, “Expertise, Health, and Popular Opinion: Debating Water Fluoridation, 1945-80,” The Canadian Historical Review 89, no.3 (September 2008): 355.

[5] Ellexis Boyle, “Marketing Masculinity in Arnold: the education of a bodybuilder,” Journal of Gender Studies 19, no.2 (June 2010): 153.

Bibliography

Boyle, Ellexis. “Marketing Masculinity in Arnold: the education of a bodybuilder.” Journal of Gender Studies 19, no.2 (June 2010): 153-166.

Carstairs, Catherine and Rachel Elder. “Expertise, Health, and Popular Opinion: Debating Water Fluoridation, 1945-80.” The Canadian Historical Review 89, no.3 (September 2008): 345-371.

Comacchio, Cynthia. “The Rising Generation: Laying Claim to the Health of Adolescents in English Canada, 1920-70.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 19, (2002): 139-168.

Kelm, Mary-Ellen. Colonizing Bodies: Aboriginal Health and Healing in British Columbia, 1900-50. Vancouver: UBC Press, 1998.

“Fitness Craze Sweeps the Nation”

This video may end up being one of my primary sources. It highlights what was going through people’s minds around the time that Pumping Iron was released. It also has some hilarious quotes as well. Check out the link to the CBC digital archives below.

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/fitness-craze-sweeps-the-nation

 

Reading Log #5

Reading Log #5

This week’s readings focused on the different ways in which men and women view their bodies and how they can alter them through exercise. In Jenny Ellison’s chapter, Let Me Hear Your Body Talk: Aerobics for Fat Women Only, 1981–1985 she discusses how many overweight women found comfort in exercising at classes hosted by “Large as Life”[1]. Ellison explains how the women who were a part of this movement were allowed to “participate in health and popular culture in a way that they had not previously believed was available to them”[2]. Ellison’s chapter highlights the fact that at this time women began to feel as if their bodies were there own. Although the problem was not entirely fixed, women came a lot closer to being able to feel as if they had some control over how their body was perceived and also how they felt. This is an interesting contrast to Thomas Wendelboe’s chapter, The Heterosexual Nature of Health and Hygiene Advertisements in the Cold War Era he explores how many men were controlled by heterosexual stereotypes, that were dominating marketing campaigns. Wendelboe highlights how masculinity was linked to “the image of the male athlete”[3] and also how “the healthy male body was a disciplined body”[4]. This is interesting, because it shows how early advertisements began to push men into a certain direction. Furthermore, it proves how men have had issues with their body image for far longer than most people think. The link between both these articles, is the fact that both sexes have issues with how their bodies look and feel. However, in Ellison’s chapter, the women are dealing with being overweight, however, there is a much more positive takeaway from her chapter. Through the LAL movement, many women found empowerment and a sense of community with others who were experiencing similar circumstances. Whereas, Wendelboe’s chapter focuses on how advertisements have led to men feeling very negative about their bodies. Furthermore, Wendelboe shows how these ads promoted homosexuality as a type of disease and that healthy men should refrain from any homosexual tendencies. That notion is extremely psychologically damaging to any man struggling with their sexuality. On a purely physical level, these ads promoted the use of steroids in men for them to fit in and be more masculine. Again the difference between approach is astounding. However, Wendelboe is studying ads that are made to sell a product, whereas, Ellison is focusing on a group of women who are trying to help each other. It is psychologically viable that the overall tone of the chapters are different. However, although the chapters are different, they both show how important body image is and how there are both negative and positive ways to negotiate these images. This week’s readings were enjoyable and I think that the Wendelboe chapter could be useful in my research paper.

[1] Jenny Ellison, “Let Me Hear Your Body Talk: Aerobics for Fat Women Only, 1981–1985” in Gender, Health, and Popular Culture, Historical Perspectives, ed. Cheryl Krasnick Warsh (Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2017), 193-210.

[2] Jenny Ellison, “Let Me Hear Your Body Talk: Aerobics for Fat Women Only, 1981–1985” in Gender, Health, and Popular Culture, Historical Perspectives, ed. Cheryl Krasnick Warsh (Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2017), 193-210.

[3] Thomas Wendelboe, “The Heterosexual Nature of Health and Hygiene Advertisements in the Cold War Era” in Bodily Subjects: Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, Ed. Tracy Penny Light (Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2011), 245-263.

[4] Thomas Wendelboe, “The Heterosexual Nature of Health and Hygiene Advertisements in the Cold War Era” in Bodily Subjects: Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, Ed. Tracy Penny Light (Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2011), 245-263.

Bibliography

Ellison, Jenny. “Let Me Hear Your Body Talk: Aerobics for Fat Women Only, 1981–1985” in Gender, Health, and Popular Culture, Historical Perspectives, ed. Cheryl Krasnick Warsh, 193-210. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2017.

Wendelboe, Thomas. “The Heterosexual Nature of Health and Hygiene Advertisements in the Cold War Era” in Bodily Subjects: Essays on Gender and Health, 1800-2000, Ed. Tracy Penny Light, 245-263. Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2011.

In my own readings this week, I looked at the article by Stephen Edwards and Catherine Laudner. In this article, they discuss the results of a recent survey they conducted to determine how men feel about their bodies. What is interesting is that many men wanted to be more muscular, in order to become more attractive to women. They also found out that men were just as concerned with their body image as women were. However, the different sexes go about it in different ways. Men want to be muscular and women want to be thin. I think this article will help to highlight how men are very concerned with how they look. Furthermore, they are specifically interested in becoming more muscular. This may help to link to the film Pumping Iron. Also almost every secondary source I have found was written in the 1990’s, so there may have been a resurgence in physicality or just a stronger interest in studying men’s obsession with body image.

 

               

An example of how body image concerns don’t fade with age (He’s 70)

Research Project Outline

Jared Chomyc

Research Paper Outline

History 4250

Dr. Tracy Penny Light

30 January 2018

          The research question I am seeking to answer is how does the idea of the perfect male body change men’s view of their own personal body image. Furthermore, I hope to bridge the gap between what is physically attractive and what is physically and psychologically healthy for men as a whole. I intend to focus on how the culture around the male body has changed with the primary source of the 1977 film Pumping Iron. The second primary source I found was an interview on the CBC archives that featured a popular gym and interviewed some of the members. The third primary source is an interview in the CBC archives with Arnold Schwarzenegger from 1978 where he discusses his body image and his new book on the subject.

 The first article I found “Muscle, `Hard Men’ and `Iron’ Mike Tyson: Reflections on Desire, Anxiety and the Embodiment of Masculinity” shows how masculinity is quite often associated with muscle tone. The second article “Are There Body Image Differences Between Older Men and Women?” will help to show the difference between how men and women think about their bodies and also whether or not ideas of body image change with age. The third article “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men” will help to show how young men are dealing with these issues and also how it can be psychologically damaging. The fourth article “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women” will again highlight the importance of exercise to body image and also the gender differences.

The fifth article “The Embodiment of Masculinity” focuses on what it means to be attractive and aesthetically pleasing and how it has shifted from a concern for women into a concern for both sexes. The sixth article “Body Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?” provides more evidence for the fact that both men and women are struggling with perceived notions of what their body should look like. In the seventh article “Marital Status, Marital Satisfaction, and Body Image Dissatisfaction” will provide evidence as to how body image ideas can affect both personal relationships as well as personal health. The eighth article “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys” helps develop the theory that young boys are being influenced about how their body should look based on the toys that they are playing with. The ninth article “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males” will help to prove how young men are looking towards performance enhancing drugs to meet their ideal body image. The tenth article “Eating Disturbance, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Reasons for Exercising: Gender Differences and Correlational Findings” will help to string together the idea of eating, gender and exercise in one article. The eleventh and final article “Marketing muscular masculinity in Arnold: the education of a bodybuilder” shows how Arnold’s book changed the landscape of male body image and marketing.

Bibliography

Boyle, Ellexis. “Marketing muscular masculinity in Arnold: the education of a bodybuilder.” Journal of Gender Studies 19, no.2 (2010): 153-166.

Davis, Caroline, Howard Brewer, and Marc Weinstein. “A Study of Appearance Anxiety in Young Men.” Social Behavior and Personality 21, no.1 (1993): 63-74.

Davis, Caroline and Michael Cowles. “Body Image and Exercise: A Study of Relationships and Comparisons Between Physically Active Men and Women.” Sex Roles 25, no.1 (1991): 33-44.

Drewnowski, Adam, Candace L. Kurth, and Dean D. Krahn. “Effects of Body Image on Dieting, Exercise, and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescent Males.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 17, no.4 (1995): 381-386.

Friedman, Michael A., Amy E. Dixon, Kelly D. Brownell, Mark A. Whisman, and Denise E. Wilfley. “Marital Status, Marital Satisfaction, and Body Image Dissatisfaction.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26 (1999): 81-85.

Gzowki, Peter. “Arnold Schwarzenegger, from muscles to movies.” March 27, 1978. CBC Digital Archives, 15:52. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/arnold-schwarzenegger-frommuscles-to-movies.

Jefferson, Tony. “Muscle, `Hard Men’ and `Iron’ Mike Tyson: Reflections on Desire, Anxiety and the Embodiment of Masculinity.” Body and Society 4, no.1 (1998): 77-98.

Jellini, Linda M. “Are There Body Image Differences Between Older Men and Women?” Western Journal of Nursing Research 15, no.3 (1993): 327-339.

Mansbridge, Peter. “Fitness Craze Sweeps the Nation” Feb.25, 1984. CBC Digital Archives, 2:07. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/fitness-craze-sweeps-the-nation.

McDonald, Karen, and J. Kevin Thompson. “Eating Disturbance, Body Image Dissatisfaction, and Reasons for Exercising: Gender Differences and Correlational Findings.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 11, no.3 (1992): 289-292.

Mishkind, Marc E., Judith Rodin, Lisa R. Silberstein and Ruth H. Striegel-Moore. “The Embodiment of Masculinity.” American Behavioral Scientist 29, no.5 (1986): 545-562.

Muth, Jennifer L. and Thomas F. Cash. “Body Image Attitudes: What Difference Does Gender Make?” Journal of Applied Social Psychology 27, no.16 (1997): 1438-1452.

Pope Jr., Harrison G., Roberto Olivardia, Amanda Gruber, and John Borowiecki. “Evolving Ideals of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys.” International Journal of Eating Disorders 26 (1999): 65-72.

Schwarzenegger, Arnold. Disc 1, Pumping Iron, DVD. Directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore. Hollywood, CA: Cinema 5, 1977.

Statement of Process

  1. The topic of men’s health and in particular their obsession with their body image has always fascinated me. I was born in 1994 and much of the research about this subject was done in the 90’s so I could be subconsciously drawn to this subject. Regardless of how I became interested in this subject it is very important to me. For two reasons, one is because I have my own issues with my body and what I would like to look like. The second reason is that I think it is important to understand why men have this view of their bodies and why it leads to unhealthy behaviour in some cases. Even in today’s society there is still the idea that body image is a uniquely feminine problem. Nothing could be further from the truth. Since the idea came about that in order to be masculine one had to be muscular and fit, men have become obsessed with chasing this ideal. This often leads to unhealthy activity such as: steroid use, unhealthy diets, and uneducated decisions. For these reasons, it is important to research how men are affected by the media’s portrayal of the perfect male body. Furthermore, the idea that men don’t care about how they look must be interrogated, because it can lead to denial and unhealthy behaviour.
  2. The sources I chose are all pertaining to the idea that men have been struggling with their body image for a long period of time. I was fascinated with the article that suggested that the shape of action figures could actually influence how a child thought a man should look like. Furthermore, the article by Drewnowski and his colleagues that shows that some men use steroids in order to fit into their ideal body image is crucial to my argument and it also could be a supporting argument as to why the film Pumping Iron had such long lasting effects. There are also quite a few article discussing the difference between how each sex view their body, such as the Muth, McDonald and Jennini articles highlight. Furthermore, the Friedman article points to how a obsession with body image can lead to issues in the personal lives of both men and women. The Davis articles and the Jefferson article will illustrate how the perfect body image has made it’s way to the forefront of men’s mind and popular culture. The Mishkind article talks about masculinity and how it relates to body image. The Boyle article speaks to how Arnold Schwarzenegger has influenced male marketing and male body image. I believe all these articles are valuable to show how the idea of male body image is very important to society. They are also different enough to provide insight into different aspects on how body image can affect men’s lives. The primary sources which include, the film and the two interviews are valuable because they show the type of thinking that was prevalent at the time and how it led to the issues that men have with their bodies, as is shown in the other secondary source articles I have chosen.
  3. I think before I began research on the subject of male body image, I assumed I was alone in my worries of my appearance. Or at the very least, that it was a minority of men who actually thought about this. I was surprised to learn that historians have been grappling with this idea for at least forty years. I reconsidered my notions that I was alone because the evidence points to the opposite. This revelation was extremely important to me because it helped to show that many men struggles with the same issues that I do. Furthermore, the fact that this subject is being studied, means that maybe in time men can talk more freely about how their body image affects them.
  4. I had a negative view of the past because I thought that people in the past ignored how negatively the idea of body image could impact men. The opposite turns out to be true. This subject has been studied for a long period of time and society is still wrestling with how to deal with it. I would still like to know what steps current society is taking to combat the idea that men don’t care about their bodies and how people can strive for a healthier idea of what the male body should look like and how to achieve that in a healthy way.
  5. Next time I will start my research a bit earlier and meet with the librarian earlier so that it is not so stressful trying to meet the deadline. Also, next time I may pick a subject that is easier to find sources on. That being said, I believe this research has pushed me to become a better student and to not give up even when the sources are difficult to find. Overall, I think this research will come together and lead to a well developed thesis.

Reading Log #4

Reading Log #4

This week’s readings focused on cancer and the various effects it has on gender ideals, psychology and the physiological body. Miele and Clarke’s article focused on how men can be overlooked on the issue of prostate cancer. They contribute this to the fact that “hegemonic masculinity”[1] inhibits the ability to talk about and come to grips with the reality of being sick, let alone having a disease like cancer. This kind of toxic masculinity stops men from discussing their individual health for fear of being unmanly. Furthermore, men were afraid to admit that they may be dealing wit prostate cancer because it could lead to “impotence”[2] and a loss of “sexual function”[3]. This suggests that cancer does not just have the physical manifestations that society is aware of but it also has a psychological effect on many men. Similarly, in Patricia Jasen’s article she speaks to the psychological aspects of breast and cervical cancer in women. Furthermore, Jasen comments on how many of the psychologists were working with the “Freudian vision of the female psyche”[4]. Which in the context of the time was absolutely ridiculous. These researchers even go as far as to say that cancer in women was linked to the idea that women wanted to have a “career”[5]. They were labouring under the delusion that any woman who did not fulfill the ideals of traditional feminity was more likely to be diagnosed with cancer. Furthermore, they argued that sexual deviancy and cancer went hand in hand in relation to women. It is extremely troubling that these researchers were more interested in diagnosing women based on some outdated Freudian psychology, than actually dealing with the psychological issues that arise from cancer. This is also seen in Wendy Mitchinson’s article, where she suggests that doctors would remove “the breast”[6] without “a definitive diagnosis”[7]. This is absolutely terrifying. It shows how doctors at the time did not even consider the psychological impact that a women would have after losing both of her breasts. What becomes clear after reading these articles, is that the real needs of cancer patients were often being overlooked for multiple reasons outside of their control. In Mandy Hadenko’s article she speaks about the difficulty of arranging screenings for cervical cancer. Hadenko highlights the difficulty that many women had with these screenings, especially considering many women found them invasive and cruel. She also hints at the fact that there was an obvious class distinction when it came to these screenings. She states how fees of many clinics were as high “as $19.13”[8]. The reality of the fees of testing, prevented many women from a lower social class from being screened. All of these articles highlight the fact that cancer is extremely difficult to deal with both psychologically and physically. Furthermore, each article seems to want to discourage people who would try to diagnose and treat cancer patients in one certain way. Instead a multi-faceted approach should be employed, that takes into consideration all the aspects of cancer such as: psychological effects, racial and economical issues, and gender issues.

1] Rachelle Miele and Juanne Clark. “We Remain Very Much the Second Sex: The Constructions of Prostate Cancer in Popular Magazines, 2000-2010.” American Journal of Men’s Health no. 1 (2013): 15-25.

[2] Rachelle Miele and Juanne Clark. “We Remain Very Much the Second Sex: The Constructions of Prostate Cancer in Popular Magazines, 2000-2010.” American Journal of Men’s Health no. 1 (2013): 15-25.

[3] Rachelle Miele and Juanne Clark. “We Remain Very Much the Second Sex: The Constructions of Prostate Cancer in Popular Magazines, 2000-2010.” American Journal of Men’s Health no. 1 (2013): 15-25.

[4] Patricia Jasen. “Malignant Histories: Psychosomatic Medicine and the Female Cancer Patient in the Postwar Era.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History no.2 (2003): 265-297.

[5] Patricia Jasen. “Malignant Histories: Psychosomatic Medicine and the Female Cancer Patient in the Postwar Era.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History no.2 (2003): 265-297.

[6] Mitchinson, Wendy. “The Womanly Body: A Cancer Threat,” in Body Failure: Medical Views of Women, 1900-1950, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2013: 215-238.

[7] Mitchinson, Wendy. “The Womanly Body: A Cancer Threat,” in Body Failure: Medical Views of Women, 1900-1950, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2013: 215-238.

[8] Hadenko, Mandy, “The Challenge of Developing and Publicizing Cervical Screening Programs: A Canadian Perspective.” In Cheryl Krasnick Warsh (Ed), Gender, Health and Popular Culture: Historical Perspectives. Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2011: 127-152.

Bibliography

Hadenko, Mandy, “The Challenge of Developing and Publicizing Cervical Screening Programs: A Canadian Perspective.” In Cheryl Krasnick Warsh (Ed), Gender, Health and Popular Culture: Historical Perspectives. Waterloo: Wilfred Laurier University Press, 2011: 127-152.

Jasen, Patricia. “Malignant Histories: Psychosomatic Medicine and the Female Cancer Patient in the Postwar Era.” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History 20 no.2 (2003): 265-297.

Miele, Rachelle, and Juanne Clark. “We Remain Very Much the Second Sex: The Constructions of Prostate Cancer in Popular Magazines, 2000-2010.” American Journal of Men’s Health no. 1 (2013): 15-25.

Mitchinson, Wendy. “The Womanly Body: A Cancer Threat,” in Body Failure: Medical Views of Women, 1900-1950, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2013: 215-238.

The article I looked at for my own research this week was Evolving Ideas of Male Body Image as Seen Through Action Toys. In this article, the authors emphasize the difference in action figures and how they reflect the changing ideals of male body image. This article will be useful because it shows how more and more men are feeling as uncomfortable about their bodies as women are. Furthermore, it helps to show how young children are playing with these toys and as a result are forming ideas about how their body should look like one of their action figures. It is also beneficial to my thesis statement that many of these figures were influenced by bodybuilders and Hollywood. Because of these action figures, many young adults become confused about how their bodies should look. Furthermore, the article also speaks to how many young men want a muscular body, which is something more unique to men and body image. This article will help argue the fact that the growing popularity of gyms and male body dissatisfaction, could be a result of films like Pumping Iron, which helped to influence how men want to look. In conclusion, I think this article will be helpful to further my thesis and show a different aspect of body image, specifically how children think of their bodies through their action figures.

Reading Log #3

Reading Log #3

This week’s readings discussed some of the different aspects of pregnancy. Which included Shannon Jette’s conversation about physical exertion during pregnancy and Margaret Macdonald’s article on midwifery and common assumptions about the state of the pregnant body. Finally, Barbara Clow contributed her thoughts on drugs and women’s mental state during pregnancy. All these articles speak to the complicated situations that women are faced with during pregnancy. It’s interesting how so many women have such strong opinions on what is a so called “natural birth”[1] in MacDonald’s article. What became apparent after reading this article was that many woman have their own definition of what a natural birth is. One similar theme throughout all of the stories was that all of the women wanted to feel agency. Whether that be the decision to have a midwife or not or to accept the help of doctor’s and drugs like epidurals. I think the most important thing is to make sure that the baby is healthy no matter what method is employed. For some women the answer is to completely eliminate doctor’s and technology altogether. One women said that it is wrong to “override the body in pregnancy and labor through tests and medications”[2]. Viewpoints like this can be frustrating because it endorses the view of one particular person and may make some women shy away from medical help when they may desperately need it. Overall, this article highlights the many different ways in which women decide to plan their pregnancies. MacDonald does a good job of showing many different viewpoints without prescribing to any particular point. She emphasizes that all the ideas have merit, but it comes down to what is best for each individual women. Similarly, in Jette’s article she speaks about the idea of physical exertion during pregnancy and how society’s ideas have changed on the subject. For example, in the early twentieth century it was common for doctors to preach against the “dangers of overexertion during pregnancy”[3]. This highlights the view of many people during this period, that women were frail creatures to be handled delicately, especially during pregnancy. However, this was proven false as early as the 1950’s when women were competing during “the Olympic Games”[4]. This is interesting because it shows how common misconceptions about gender can be completely false. In today’s society the common practice is to stay physically fit by walking and exercising while maintaining a healthy diet. Although this is not always the case, as many women choose to be just as active before the pregnancy as they are during. Finally, Clow’s chapter in the book Women, Health and Nation helps to show how dangerous drug use can be and also that education is crucial to a healthy pregnancy. For example, she shows how many nervous mothers during the 50’s were scared of the reality of being a single mother and would therefore turn to pills for their anxiety. This is seen when some mother’s were so convinced that they weren’t pregnant that they “attributed their symptoms to tension rather than to pregnancy”[5]. As a result, many women would be prescribed Thalidomide and harm their child in the process. However, there are examples of women who took Thalidomide by accident and chose to take action. Sherri Finkbine took her husbands prescription of Thalidomide and for fear of harm to her unborn child went to Sweden to have an abortion there. By using this example, Clow shows that women were not without agency when it came to these drugs. Which seems to be a thread throughout all these articles. The idea that whether it be exercise, pregnancy plans, or drug use no women was completely without agency when it came to the choices they made during their individual pregnancies.

] Margaret Macdonald, “Gender Expectations: Natural Bodies and Natural Birth n he New Midwifery in Canada,” Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 20, 2 (2006): 248.

[2] Margaret Macdonald, “Gender Expectations: Natural Bodies and Natural Birth n he New Midwifery in Canada,” Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 20, 2 (2006): 246.

[3] Shannon Jette, “Exercising Caution: The Production of Medical Knowledge about Physical Exertion during Pregnancy,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History, 28,2 (2011): 296.

[4] Shannon Jette, “Exercising Caution: The Production of Medical Knowledge about Physical Exertion during Pregnancy,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History, 28,2 (2011): 296.

[5] Barbara Clow, “An Illness of Nine Months’ Duration: Pregnancy and Thalidomide Use in Canada and the United States,” in Feldberg, Ladd-Taylor, Li and McPherson, Women, Health, and Nation, Montreal McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2003: 54.

Bibliography

Clow, Barbara. “An Illness of Nine Months’ Duration: Pregnancy and Thalidomide Use in Canada and the United States,” in Feldberg, Ladd-Taylor, Li and McPherson, Women, Health, and Nation, Montreal McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2003: 45-66.

Jette, Shannon. “Exercising Caution: The Production of Medical Knowledge about Physical Exertion during Pregnancy,” Canadian Bulletin of Medical History, 28,2 (2011): 293-313.

Macdonald, Margaret. “Gender Expectations: Natural Bodies and Natural Birth n he New Midwifery in Canada,” Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 20, 2 (2006): 235-256.

 

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