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I always assumed it was meant a combination of broad upper body/bone structure and muscular shoulders.
A few years ago I noticed there are quite a few guys with very wide shoulders, thanks to bone structure but their shoulders themselves do not look particularly strong.
I've even seen one really skinny guy with wide shoulders (bone structure) but almost no muscle or fat. He looked more like a broad-chested "bone rack" than the "athletic/jock-type" that is more common with people of his dimensions.
Just imho, women are attracted to broad shoulders; it feels protective; major body building is not the biggest thing for some women, others prefer major tone. It's really just a matter of preference.
For me, what is attractive in a man is a combination of wide flat shoulders, some nice muscle definition (but not bodybuilding gym muscle), and accentuated with narrow hips and long legs. Guys that have too much weight lifting muscle seem too artificial to me.
How wide does someone have to be to be considered "broad" shouldered?
Over the past few months I noticed most guys are similarly built to me; a slightly broader in the upper chest than at the waist... Viewed from the front, say 2-4 inches across diffeference. The guys I've seen with very wide bone structures could have had their upper-torso's 6-plus inches wider, when viewed from the front, than their waist area.
I was also surprised to notice that there are young women that also have fairly wide "shoulders" or upper torsos (not obvious, unless you are looking for it) in comparison to their lower ribcage and waist. What surpised me the most is many of these young women look slim, fit and often model-like yet when you look at the spacing between their shoulder joints it can be as wide as the average young man's.
Of the young women I've seen like that, most of them still looked attractive to me, not at all "butch", while when I compare myself to them, my shoulder width does not make me appear distintively male.
For me, what is attractive in a man is a combination of wide flat shoulders, some nice muscle definition (but not bodybuilding gym muscle), and accentuated with narrow hips and long legs. Guys that have too much weight lifting muscle seem too artificial to me.
What are "flat-shoulders?"
I've also heard there are generally two kinds of shoulder "patterns." When arms are left hanging down, relaxed
1) They look like they're sloping downward off the neck
2) They look "square" with the neck.
I have very "square" looking shoulders.
Are square-looking shoulders "masculine," or is that just another difference in the random shapes people of either gender come in?
I am one of those females with broad, square shoulders. I am 5'8" and slim, but careful not to work my Trapezius muscles because I am afraid it will give me that "butch" look. I think the "masculine" look depends more on the amount of actual muscle than bone structure IMHO.
I prefer a balance between bone structure and muscle. While I appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to get that competition body builders physique, I don't find it attractive. Too much in my opinion, especially the bulging veins!
I am one of those females with broad, square shoulders. I am 5'8" and slim, but careful not to work my Trapezius muscles because I am afraid it will give me that "butch" look.
I think the "masculine" look depends more on the amount of actual muscle than bone structure IMHO.
I prefer a balance between bone structure and muscle. While I appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to get that competition body builders physique, I don't find it attractive. Too much in my opinion, especially the bulging veins!
I also try not to work my trapezius muscles too hard for similar reasons; I already have a slighlty longish and thickish neck, a slightly large head as well as an average to vaguely-narrower-than-average upper torso bone structure.
Good point. That makes sense.
My natural muscle tone was still a little heavier in the shoulders and pectorals than most women, even a few men. My shoulders aren't very big, but if I was a women they'd make me look very butch, as they have the size and approximate shape of grapefruit-halves attached to the top of my arms.
I agree that many body builders look weird, scary or freakish. Although I've gained 18 lbs of lean mass in one year and would love another 18 lbs, I would actually prefer to have the physique of a pro-boxer, instead of a pro-bodybuilder.
Square would be square with the neck, rather than sloping down from bad posture or too much neck and shoulder muscles.
Good posture is attractive.
You mentioned earlier you liked "flat" shoulders... Is that another way of saying "square shoulders", or is it something else?
You just gave me a gym flashback.
Some young women who work out there also work out their lower back and some upper body excersizes instead of just doing cardio with legs. They carry themselves in a noticeably more rigid or firm and co-ordinated in upperbody positioning, compared to average people who sometimes appear to be randomly holding their head and chest up... Very unusual looking and VERY attractive. (drool, lol)
I would have to say the pro-boxer build is a balanced look and attractive.
Perhaps you are attracted to the "rigid or firm" positioning because they seem confident. That isn't to say that people who slouch aren't confident...
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