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I think that in Ancient Greece and Rome that the male body was very much admired for its sheer beauty. Women weren't considered heroines in the way men could be. That's why would see discs and swords in their hands. Women were not entertainers, so they didn't have anything to accompany their nude bodies. What, are you going to have the Venus of Milo holding a baby, or washing dishes?
What is ironic is that the myth of the ugly male body didn't start until the early 1990s. This thread is similar to the shorter mens shorts threads that I and others have particiated in. After catching flack from people, almost always females, for wearing shorter shorts as a male, I decided to do some internet research and ask females that I knew what their opinions were on this sunject. Most women that I knew and that I knew were heterosexual, said that they prefer men to cover up, especially their thighs, but showing off their chest and arms was acceptable. I have read where some women detest body hair on a man.
On the internet, I found several years ago a well written article that explained that until the late 1980s, men enjoyed a wider range of fashion choices than today and that men wearing short shorts, stomach-bearing shirts, and other skin showing items of yesteryear, were not only acceptable for males to wear, but preferred. Then, a chain ofd events caused a cultural shift to cause revulsion of the male body. Among them were the emergence of a 'gay look' caused by the backlash to the Gay Rights Movement of the 1980s, the fear brought about by the AIDS catastrophe, and by the early 1990s, the emerging Rap and Hip Hop culture, which would by the mid-1990s, with its hypermasculinity and baggy clothes become the only way for young males to dress. For several years in the early 1990s, Surfer, Skater, and Grunge styles competed with Hip Hop in cultural influence, and all featured long and baggy male attire. Michael Jordan began wearing long and baggy basketball shorts by the late 1980s so he could wear his 'lucky' college shorts underneath. When the Fab 5 Wolverines adopted the look in 1991, it spread to basketball at large. I would say in my own life, I noticed the long and baggy clothing dominate male fashion around 1991 and that by 1994 or so, it was all long and baggy. Since then until about 5 or so years ago, rappers and rap inspired sports, set the trends. Also at the same time, women began wearing less and less and showing more skin. To many, a woman skowing skin is a fform of female liberation and empowerment. Movies and tv shows such as Reno 911 began to feature gay male characters in short shorts or other skin-baring attire so that the audience can easily see that they are gay.
I have always found it ironic that most straight women would prefer to see another woman showing thigh and other skin while the same on a man, which she would be attracted to, is repulsive. Read through the threads on men in shorter shorts and look at many female posters' replies. Many of these posters are no doubt old enough to remember when a man showing some skin was appreciated. I have struggled to understand why this revulsion of the male body by supposedly straight females and have drawn two conclusions as to why this is possible. 1. Skin baring clothing has become associated only with women and for some reason, gay men. It is still unacceptable by society at large for men to do many things that are considered the domain of women. 2. Women, like most of society, were brainwashed by the cultural shift that occurred that was the basklash to the Gay Rights Movement.
At the same time, heterosexual men ate this up with no questions asked. Just dress this way and you will prove to the world that you are not gay. It got even to the point where swim shorts for men became extremely baggy and past the knees, sometimes almost to the ankle.
About 2009 or so, the trend seems to be reversing very slowly. Skinny jeans came back and now, shorts are starting to slowly inch above the knee. In 2011, te group LMFAO put out the hit song "Sexy and I Know It," which was well-received. Then in 2012, "Magic Mike" came out.
So, I think the myth of the male body, which was created roughly 25 years ago and picked up as time went along, may slowly be being dispelled. If the current trend continues, we will be back to where we were before long and baggy became near universal for men. If that is the case, I will be curious to know in 15 years or so what people think of these trends as they look back on them.
Yep, short shorts or brief bottoms for swimming have become seen as 'female' due to association. It is weird, I think a lot of it is the fact that a lot of women are fashion conscious, and more tuned into the current fashion trends and their unspoken orthodoxies, but also subtle messages, largely driven by other men, about how men's bodies are unattractive and not sexually alluring. This, in turn, sends the message that women are innately 'sexier.' The typical woman in porn is totally epilated, nicely tanned.etc, while the man is just buff and often just not very attractive. I've also noticed that most 'sexy' shots of men focus on the torso; it's as if guy's legs are ignored, for some reason.
Of course men and women are valued for their contribution to art, music, literature, technology and countless other artifacts of civilisation.
But read-up on Maslow's hierarchy of needs
Just as no amount of willpower will remove your need to breathe, self-restraint is not effective in preventing human desire to have sex.
Sex in humans do not necessarily lead to reproduction, but is the biological equivalent of the latter, and after breathing, drinking, eating and shelter is the prime force that drives humans.
Countless news of devastating, career-destroying sex scandals by high ranking individuals or members of the clergy illustrate the point.
Men and women don't like to see reproduction as the sole purpose of their lives.
If your name is Da Vinci, Shakespeare , Newton, Beethoven, or Einstein, you've left a heritage that will last for eternity (of the human civilisation that is).
For the remaining 99.99%, well, you surely understand what your only 'heritage' may be. It's in our genes, and no denials will change that.
When a female turns from a child into a woman, she places (often unconsciously) every man she meets into 1 of those 2 categories: potential mate candidate, or not.
Tall height and physical strength indicate good "protector" and that's why women are attracted by those features. Handsomes looks are usually the outcome of good facial symmetry == good immune system.
Intelligence, wit and energy == potential good provider. The human characteristics that are apparently not related to reproductive value, like great dancer, talented musician or "great around the house" in fact indicate a nimble and productive mind.
Back to the subject of male body: yes, it was revered at some points in the past. But did you notice how? The Venus of Milo just stands there doing nothing. OTOH, look at the famous male statutes.
Most of them either have something in their hands (a discus, a spear, a stick, a sword), or are engaged in some kind of physical activity. This indicates that the creators may have admired the male body not so much for the sheer "beauty" of it, as it is the case with womans body, but the capacity to act - the most valued masculine attribute.
As much as the male was admired for his muscular physique and athleticism, the ideal female was admired for traits which made her good at childbearing and child-rearing. You don't think it's all for show, do you? Nature has a purpose for everything. Those stick-thin models these days would be seen as bad child-bearing material back in those days.
I find this article articulated a lot of my thoughts on the matter. Scroll down to the last comment (or the comment posted by 'John' today) to see what I had to say in response. It's a little long, but well worth reading.
Basically, the premise is that society considers the male body unsightful, unattractive and unworthy as an object as a desire: it's gross and to be covered up. In contrast, a nude or scantily clad female body is the universal standard of beauty, even for straight females, apparently, and this is reflected in the much more liberal fashion for women.
The associations with homophobia is particularly pertinent. It shows how ludicrous it is. The internet has revealed a generation of women - or perhaps a cohort among many generations - who actually doesn't seem to be a big fan of the male body. I assumed a straight woman would visually appreciate the woman, if not be aroused by it, yet it seems common for some to say women are objectively more beautiful or sexier or even they get more turned on by them. When you stop to think about it it's not surprising considering how they are usually presented. Since when have you seen a man portrayed as an object of erotic beauty? As an object of the 'female gaze'?
Umm. The only men who say that the male body is not considered attractive have never heard of the movie Magic Mike.
And men who don't workout/are fat.
Ha. I know tons of young ladies who are very turned on by the male body. Sucks to be you.
Not to say that things aren't SLOWLY changing (more like a ripple against a tide) and there aren't exceptions, but as a whole, the average Joe is so seldom portrayed as sexy compared to women.
Because he's average and therefore has a gut and probably balding.
The average woman isn't attractive, either. Since when is average considered the best????
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. Perhaps demographics are different where you live.
