When I was 14, Men’s Health Magazine filled me with self-loathing.
I enjoyed the quick, do-on-your-bedroom-floor workout routines. And the inherently sexist ‘Tips to Rock Her World in the Bedroom’.
In part it made me feel mature. Adult. But mostly it was a pervy glimpse into the thriving sex life I one day aspired to hold.
Yuck, I know.
Sex tips aside, the magazines began to have an adverse effect on me. Each time I put one down, I would find myself feeling less… comfortable.
It wasn’t conscious. It wasn’t a formed thought or feeling or emotion. Rather, it was a lingering buzz; a near-silent uneasiness deep in my gut I could never quite put my finger on.
Until one day I could.
It was inadequacy.
Bec Sparrow talks about finding contentment in the way she looks rather than comparing herself to the unattainable, on The Well. Post continues after audio…
Young men are barraged with the same perfection and opulence and unattainable curves young women are.
They read the same articles. Follow the same Instagram accounts. Scroll the same Facebook feeds to an extent their subconsciouses are overloaded with the same skinny-yet-muscly, touched-up ‘role models’ that young women’s are. Whitened teeth. Regal aura. You know the type.
The difference is… they aren’t told there’s an equivalent.
From a young age, mothers try and teach their daughters that the people they see in the media aren't real; that their faces are digitally brushed, and their teeth chemically whitened.
Top Comments
But... but.. Brad Pitt has WRINKLES and GREY facial hair in that photo! How has that escaped your notice?! If Angelina were to appear like that it would be hugely controversial and she would be called "brave" (or criticised for letting herself go!).... so yes, there may be increased pressure on men to look good these days and that is a shame for young men in particular... but it is just nowhere near the same. There are still endless examples of unattractive men for young boys to aspire to.... super skinny rockstars with bad teeth, nerdy silicon valley millionaires, old overweight CEOs or Presidents (ahem..)... and yet what do most of them have in common? Beautiful, thin wives/girlfriends!!!!!! You know what I think is happening? White men are only NOW starting to lose the long held privilege of nobody ever judging them on their looks... Well, welcome to the club, we've been here a while and can tell you it gets a lot worse! Equality is a bitch huh.
(sorry Luca, not meaning to be harsh at all! Love your work, this article just rubbed me the wrong way!)
Good on you Luca! Hopefully you can contribute more male awareness / positive articles on this site! 90% of the time men are referred to here it is for a negative reason... why does it have to be like that just because this is a female oriented site?
If this was a site where most references to women was in a negative light then it'd be known as a mysoginistic site... let's have positivity all round hey?