Gender differences
related to body image are increasingly prevalent between men and women.
Throughout all stages of life, women have more body dissatisfaction than men.
Although dissatisfaction is more common in women, men are becoming more
negatively affected than women. In a longitudinal study that assessed body
image across time and age between men and women, men placed greater
significance on their physical appearance than women, even though women report
body image dissatisfaction more often. Adolescence is where this difference is
most notable. One reason for this is because males are being targeted in the
media more heavily today. Historically, and for a much longer period of time,
the media has immoderately targeted females, which may explain why they are
becoming less sensitized to the effects. This information suggests that
appearance pressure and concerns are continuing to affect both men and women in
western culture (Wolf, 2009).
Men's body image is a
topic of increasing interest in both academic articles and in the popular
press. Current research indicates many men wish to become more muscular than
they currently perceive themselves to be, often desiring up to 26 pounds of
additional muscle mass. According to the study, western men desire muscle mass
over that of Asian men by as much as 30 pounds. The desire for additional
muscle has been linked to many men's concepts about masculinity.
A variety of research has indicated a relationship between men's endorsement of
traditionally masculine ideas and characteristics, and their desire for
additional muscle. Some research has suggested this relationship between muscle
and masculinity may begin early in life, as boys' action figures are often
depicted as super-muscular, often beyond the actual limits of human physiology.
In general, research
shows that body image in regards to appearance becomes less of a stress for
women as they age. Studies show a decline in dissatisfaction of body image in
college-aged women as they progress from the first semester of college to
subsequent semesters. Their appearance rating of themselves tends to increase,
while males’ do not significantly change and often become worse. This suggests
that the early years of college serve as a period for body image development,
which can later affect the mental and physical well being of an individual.
Studies have found that females tend to think more about their body shape and
endorse thinner figures than men even into old age. When female undergraduates
were exposed to depictions of thin women their body satisfaction decreased, but
rose when exposed to larger models. In addition, many women engage in fat talk
(speaking negatively about the weight-related size/shape of one's body), a
behavior that has been associated with weight dissatisfaction, body
surveillance, and body shame. In addition,
women who overhear others using fat talk may also experience an increase in
body dissatisfaction and guilt. As a result, women may experience concerns
related to body image in a number of different ways and from a variety of
sources.
As men and women reach
older age, body image takes on a different meaning. Research studies show that
the importance attached to physical appearance decreases with age. Physical
appearance remains important later in life, but the functional aspects of the
body take precedence over contentment with appearance. Women are reported to
benefit from the ageing process, becoming more satisfied with their images,
while men begin to develop more insecurities and issues. Women reach a certain
stage where they are no longer subject to the social pressures that heavily emphasize
the importance of appearance. Men from the same studies are reported as
becoming increasingly dissatisfied with their physical appearance as they age.
Men are also less likely to implement appearance-enhancing activities into
their daily lives.
The older women become
the more satisfied with their body image they are likely to become because of
the relief of stress from societal pressures. The older men become, the more
dissatisfied they are likely to become due to increased physical and perceived incompetency.
Since there are significant differences between men and women across all ages,
gender serves as a better predictor of body dissatisfaction and sociocultural
perceived influences than age (Wolf, 2009).
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