The idealized ideal of the sculpted male shape has hardly ever represented the body of the typical man worldwide. According to a fashion model Ben James: "I hope the industry is enhanced by utilising various body shapes in previously unheard-of ways. Conversations about bodies often centre around women and those assigned a female gender at birth. These discussions frequently involve criticism, objectification, and judgment. The reality is, it’s deeply troubling. Women should be free to live without such scrutiny. Additionally, male body shaming has become more noticeable over time, especially as society grows more focused on appearance. This shift is not only frustrating but likely contributes to the rise in eating disorders and body dysmorphia among young men. The pervasive influence of social media seems to play a major role in this increased focus on male body image. While historically, men have had more freedom to be deemed attractive regardless of their physical appearance, many still struggle with their body image issues.

Stereotypes in Male Beauty Standards

The rise of K-pop bands like BTS, who are renowned for their colourful hair and makeup, has made the ideal more feminine in South Korea. By conventional Western standards, this beauty would be considered unconventional, yet it is currently highly coveted and influential in the media. East Asian beauty standards, like those of any other ethnic group, are diverse and multifaceted. As the fashion industry shifted its focus to Asian consumers and the Asian market, it grew exponentially. Given the large number of affluent individuals in Asia, companies aimed to establish a connection with customers by using their faces in their advertising campaigns.

Comparing themselves to someone they knew personally or to a celebrity featured in those glossy grocery store magazines (yes, they're old) was always what drove their desire for change. They wanted to be more "cut" and muscular, but they never had the motivation to make that happen. Many of their peers during their younger years were also focused on achieving specific weight goals or preparing for the "beach body," even going to extreme measures. As swimsuit season approached, they felt and sensed that pressure returning. However, they never believed that prioritizing their appearance was worth it for their life, a sentiment they still hold today.

Over time, people have become more aware of the messages they receive about their bodies. There's also a sense of relief for those who weren't raised in an era where bodybuilding influencers and #fitspo were as common, especially given how digital the world has become. The magazines they once read were enough to shape their perceptions. However, today's world is dominated by live-action comic book superheroes, such as Henry Cavill’s Superman, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. A hypermasculine ideal is being presented as the standard body type, affecting both boys and men. The message is clear: if they don't measure up to this ideal, they are somehow failing. Unfortunately, this creates a narrative that they're not good enough because they're not "hot enough." Their collective mental health suffers as a result. For boys and men as well, body positivity (and body neutrality) is essential. It can significantly contribute to the development of more positive relationships with their bodies.

The sheer challenges faced by men due to unrealistic beauty standards

Body image and body dysmorphia

A mental illness known as body dysmorphia (BD) causes a person to obsess over perceived imperfections in their appearance. Bigorexia, also known as muscle dysmorphia, is a subtype of BD that is especially dangerous for young men. The obsession with bodybuilding and gaining strength and/or muscle is what defines this condition. Although lifting properly and sparingly has many advantages, going overboard can have far more negative effects than positive ones.

"Ego lifting," is a term used to characterize someone who lifts incredibly heavy weights with terrible form and technique. Ego lifting is a common strategy used by people with muscle dysmorphia to convince themselves that they are improving.

Ego lifting, regrettably, carries a very high risk of harm. In addition to ego-lifting, people with muscle dysmorphia will engage in behaviours similar to those of people with other eating disorders, typically by severely limiting their diet to maximize protein intake. Others might turn to severe "cutting," which is the process of reducing your body size to look leaner while keeping muscle mass, or fasting. Unfortunately, this usually makes the issue worse because, in most people, BD is much more exaggerated at lower body fat levels. Additionally, victims frequently become fixated on their body fat percentage and leanness, which, when overdone, can be extremely harmful. Furthermore, social media's influence contributes to the pressure on novice or otherwise hesitant lifters to use steroids without giving their obvious negative effects on their health enough consideration.

The right way forward- Universal and holistic body positivity

Note that the male identity is not limited to heterosexual, cisgender men. There is greater flexibility in defining masculinity and femininity when it comes to non-binary and transgender identities. However, this goes against the grain, and one barrier is the harmful effects of standards. For progress to be made, the LGBTQ+ community must continue to be represented in literature, television, and other forms of media. It's also time to see more men of different races, sizes, and shapes in the media. A culture that demonstrates that conforming to conventional notions of masculinity is not necessary is required. Both men and women experience the same underlying insecurities. According to certified emotional intelligence practitioner Harini Natarajan, humans are ontologically insecure and vulnerable. After all, we're all human, so it's time to challenge the traditional beliefs about men's beauty. As boys grow up, it is crucial to work toward a society that stops toxic masculinity at its grassroots.

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