It’s no secret that body positivity is important. After all, who doesn’t want to feel good in their skin? Body positivity isn’t just for women. Men need it too. This article will explore why body positivity is just as important for men as it is for women and what can be done to make it more popularized.
What is Body Positivity, and Why is it Also Important for Men?
Body positivity is the movement that promotes self-love and acceptance regardless of size, shape, or appearance. It’s about accepting your body as it is and loving yourself for who you are.
The body positivity movement has grown in popularity in recent years, thanks in part to social media. But while the message of self-love and acceptance has been widely embraced by women, it’s still not as common among men.
This is a shame because body positivity is just as important for men as it is for women. Some might even argue that it’s more important for men. Here’s why.
Men Suffer More from Body Dysmorphic Disorder
The mental health condition called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) causes a person to fixate on one or more perceived flaws in their appearance. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Compared to the general population, people with BDD are four times more susceptible to thinking of suicide and have 2.6 times more possibilities to attempt it. They could also stop going to school or work, shun social interaction, stay away from intimate relationships, and become housebound.
While BDD can affect anyone, regardless of gender, its effect is different and worse in men. According to a study, compared to women with BDD, men with BDD had a higher Psychiatric Status Rating Scale and a lower score on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. They were more likely to also suffer from substance use disorder, not be working due to psychopathology, and suffer a disability due to BDD.
This is likely due to several factors, including societal pressure to meet unrealistic standards of beauty. Men are often told that they need to be muscular and strong. They’re also bombarded with images of “perfect” male bodies in the media. This leads to a lot of internalized shame and self-hatred, which can manifest itself in all sorts of unhealthy ways. It’s no wonder that so many men suffer from BDD.
BDD can lead to eating disorders. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that can have a devastating effect on a person’s physical and mental health. These include conditions like anorexia, binge-eating disorder, and bulimia. Eating disorders have the highest rate of deaths among mental illnesses. They’re often associated with women, but it’s important to remember that men can suffer from them, too.
How Body Positivity Can Be Popularized
It is essential to popularize body positivity for men to promote a healthy body image. Here are some ways to do so:
1. Use social media to spread the word.
Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to promote body positivity. There are already many body-positive accounts on Instagram and Twitter. Follow them and share their posts. You can also start your account dedicated to promoting body positivity.
2. Have open conversations about body image and encourage positive self-talk.
Body image is often seen as a taboo topic, but it’s important to talk about it openly. This will help to break down the stigma and normalize the conversation. It can be difficult to start these conversations, but they’re worth having.
You can also encourage positive self-talk. This means speaking kindly to yourself and not putting yourself down. Urge others to do the same for themselves. It might seem like a small thing, but it can make a big difference.
3. Be accepting of all bodies.
One of the most important things you can do is to be accepting of all bodies, no matter their size, shape, or appearance. This includes your own body. Learn to love and appreciate your body just the way it is.
4. Support men’s body-positive initiatives and body-positive men’s fashion.
There are already many initiatives working to promote body positivity for men. Show your support for these initiatives by following them on social media, donating to them, or sharing their work.
It is important even for the fashion industry to offer clothing for big and tall men and big and short men alongside tall and skinny men and short and skinny men, and all sizes in between. Support clothing brands that do this to encourage other brands to do the same.
Support Body Positive Men
There are many ways to popularize body positivity for men. You can use social media to spread the word, have open conversations about body image, and be accepting of all bodies. You can also support initiatives and brands that promote body positivity for men. By doing this, you can help to break down the stigma around male body image and create a more positive environment for all men.
It is time to encourage more and more men to reject the traditional definitions of masculinity and embrace body positivity instead. Because when men feel good about themselves, they become better partners, fathers, and friends.
