CHAPTER 01
AN INTRODUCTION TO #MALE #BODYIMAGE
How we view our bodies is often a hot topic of debate. With so much pressure to look and present ourselves in a certain way, it’s natural that a lot of #men find themselves feeling insecure about their bodies.
In a world where image is becoming increasingly important, it can be tough to come to terms with a part of your body which you feel isn’t “attractive” by the regular standards of beauty. If that’s the case, it’s unlikely your #mentalhealth has suffered at least partially as a result.
If you can relate to this, you’re definitely not alone. Poor #mentalhealth as a result of bad #bodyimage affects millions of people every year. In this guide, we’re going to assess what you can do to combat that feeling, with a focus on accepting and mentally overcoming the low #selfesteem which can be triggered by feeling bad about your body.
#Male #bodyimage statistics
It’s no secret that a lot of people feel bad about their body in one way or another. But just how does that translate into numbers? Unfortunately, research by the #MentalHealthFoundation found that as many as 28% of #men aged over 18 have felt #anxiety relating to #bodyimage issues.
The study went on to highlight that around one in five #men experience some form of negative thought as a result of #bodyimage, with the stats showing:
21%
Had dressed in a way to hide body parts they were unhappy with in the past year
22%
Had negatively compared themselves to others because of #bodyimage in the last 12 months
11%
Of those surveyed had experienced suicidal thoughts because of how they viewed their bodies
4%
Had gone as far as to deliberately hurt themselves because of #bodyimage issues
But this is far from the only survey to highlight just how much of a factor poor #bodyimage is becoming for #men. Charity the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) teamed up with #Instagram to reveal a number of shocking figures about how #men viewed themselves.
Their report found:
48%
Of #men aged 16-40 struggled because of how they felt about their body
58%
said the #COVID-19 #pandemic had negatively affected how they see their body
26%
were totally happy with the way they look
21%
didn’t feel comfortable talking to anyone about it
Interestingly, 39% claimed that they felt there was a wider pressure from society to have the “perfect” body. This says a lot about the increasing pressure from outside forces to achieve potentially unrealistic standards of beauty.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
The evolution of #male #bodyimage
Beauty standards are constantly shifting and evolving. What’s considered conventionally attractive in the 2020s isn’t what people a hundred years ago would have seen as appealing. Here’s a brief evolution of how #male #bodyimage has changed throughout the past decades and even centuries.
Ancient Greece
Ironically, despite the height of Ancient Greece ending as long ago as the year 146 BC, their ideals of perfect body image appear to be relatively in keeping with the CGI superheroes of today. Their heroes were depicted as muscular, thin-waisted and with little-to-no body fat. This image was in keeping with gods like #Zeus and #Poseidon, who wore long hair which was tied back.
1800s-1900’s
Flash forward a couple of thousand years and this image would change drastically. During the Victorian and Georgian periods, a wide-waist, large stomach and broad frame was the peak of masculinity. This showed a high level of economic status, as it proved you were able to keep yourself well-fed at a time when not everyone could. Hair was cut to a short, sensible trim or side-part.
1920s-1950s
(Golden age of Hollywood). With the sudden popularity of motion picture films, the ideal male #bodyimage changed once again. It was quickly discovered that the camera made people seem larger than they were, meaning the ideal leading man had to be athletic and lean, but not necessarily muscular. #CaryGrant and #JimmyStewart were the epitome of what every guy wanted to look like.
1960s-1970s
With the rise of stars like the #Beatles, #JimiHendrix and #DavidBowie, the new normal was a slim, almost androgenous figure with little muscle or fat. Thin arms, chests and legs were what men were after, with radical hairstyles like mop-tops, long flowing hair and afros the most popular amongst young men.
1980s-1990s
Things would radically shift again shortly thereafter, with popular characters like #SylvesterStallone’s #Rambo suddenly making it far more desirable to be bulked up and ready to practically rip out of any T-shirt you were wearing. Hairstyles varied drastically in this period, but it is notable for the debut of the infamous mullet.
1990s-2000s
At the turn of the century the idea of muscles as attractive certainly didn’t fade – although it was drastically toned down. A leaner silhouette was preferred, with #BradPitt perhaps exemplifying this best in the movie Fight Club. Hairstyles that were popular in this time included buzz cuts, frosted tips and quiffs.
2015 and beyond
While muscles are still coveted in the modern day, there’s been a definite shift in recent years in favour of dad-bods. This sturdy look sees some bulk across the shoulders, with an ample (although not overly-large) belly. Some would argue the men of today have a lot to thank the likes of Seth Rogen, Chris Pratt and Jason Segel for.
#Male #bodyimage and #mentalhealth
It’s hard to quantifiably measure how much of an impact body image can have on a person. And, in truth, it will vary greatly between individuals. Sadly, there are quite a few ways in which having a poor outlook on your own body can damage how you see yourself as a whole. Some of the best examples are:
Feelings of inadequacy
It’s only natural if you’re comparing yourself with unrealistic standards of beauty that you’re going to feel second rate. Very few men have the “perfect body”, but when you see them plastered all over billboards, on TV adverts and all across #socialmedia, you can be forgiven for thinking it’s the norm. This can leave you feeling like you’re not good enough.
Lack of confidence across other aspects of life
The lack of confidence which comes from these feelings of inadequacy is bound to impact other areas of your life. Whether it’s trouble with dating, not feeling confident enough in yourself to excel at work, or even just feeling insecure when you go out to a social event, it can have a huge impact.
Embarrassment and #anxiety
If there’s a particular part of your body which you feel bad about, you may experience some form of #anxiety when you leave the house. It could even be the case that you try to hide this perceived flaw from the wider world. This is bound to leave you feeling down, as well as not quite at home in your own body.
Wider mental and physical health issues
Severe feelings of #depression about your body can lead to extreme mental and physical issues. Suicidal thoughts are not totally uncommon, while issues pertaining to weight might result in you developing unhealthy eating habits. Both will have a detrimental impact on you.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
