We have heard all about gay men being discriminated, women being targeted in media, male dominance and so on. But when it comes to talking about how males are also targeted by media, the society seems to back off. Men are equally targeted in the media and are stereotyped like women. From movies, TV shows, commercials to magazines, men are being told to have more power and to be "like a man". What does it really mean to be "like a man"? The media portrays male figures as strong, aggressive, dominating and powerful. This is the definition of "to be like a man" for the media. And society easily takes in all the information from media and thinks that this is actually the social norm. It seems like people specially of the present generation look at the physical features of a person more than their inner self.
Like how teenage girls and women have insecurities and go through eating disorders, men are also insecure and statistics show that an estimated of 10-15% of people with anorexia and bulimia are male. Men are expected to have strength and be masculine but at the same time are criticised if they show any signs of them dominating a women. Teenage girls and even younger girls watch movies and read books where the male figure has strength and is clearly more dominant. Men feel the need to confirm to the society's normal male features and cross many limits to get to that point. They put emotions out of their lives scared that someone in society might point it out and call them less of a man. 
How many of us girls have asked the question "is he good looking?" when the topic of a guy comes up, whether or not they are in movies or in reality. Men's cosmetic products, as well as the number of plastic surgeries on men is increasing rapidly. The media has engraved such a false idea of the importance of physical appearance in our minds that its almost impossible for us to not judge person by their appearance. 
If you flip through any magazine, you will for sure find buffed men in many pages like the picture above. Men and even young teenage boys look up to these people in the magazines unaware of the fact that the pictures have been touched up digitally. The stress of looking "perfect" like these men through workouts or by the intake of protein shakes, affects their mental and physical health. About 4% of boys in grade 9 and 10 reported anabolic steroid use in a 2002 study. This number has increased a lot since then.
QUESTIONS:
- What else do you think makes the society believe that a person needs to look perfect in order to be accepted.?
- Do you also at times find yourself judging a person by their appearance?
- What do you think media should focus more about men rather than their physical features?
Citations:
"Eating Disorders Statistics". ANAD. National Association of Anorexia
Nervosa and
Associated Disorders. Web. 30 April 2014.
"Statistics". National Eating
Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC). Web. 30 April 2014.
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