Body Image Project Reveals What The 'Ideal Men's Body' Looks Like Around The World
What The 'Ideal Men's Body' Looks Like Around The World
Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK
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If you think it's just women who are subject to body image ideals you are very much mistaken.
Around the world men are also put under pressure to conform to their society's beauty standards.
To prove it, Superdrug Online Doctor asked 19 graphic designers around the world - 11 women and eight men - to photoshop the image of one man to represent what they believed would be seen as attractive in their country.
"Our goal with this project is to fuel a revolution: to spark real change about body image, to empower people to prioritise health above appearance, and to promote body confidence around the world," the website reads.
In order to attain a true snapshot of male attractiveness standards across cultures, the researchers gave the graphic designers minimal instructions.
In Australia, the man maintained his shape for the most part, in the UK he got a slimmed-down body, and in the US he got a chiselled physique.
The Spanish artist maintained his light skin tone and the Hong Kong designer narrowed his face. Meanwhile the Russian designer gave him a golden mane and the Serbian designer drew a half-sleeve tattoo.
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Commenting on the project, Denise Hatton, chief executive of YMCA England, a founding partner of the Be Real campaign for body confidence, said: "Superdrug’s second 'Perceptions of Perfection' report shines a much-needed light on the pressures men across the globe face regarding body image.
"Men suffer equally with women around low body confidence as many strive to attain a standard of 'attractiveness' that is both often unobtainable and, as this report shows, driven by cultural perceptions and advertising ideals.
"Our own research found that 40% of men in the UK felt pressure from television and magazines to have a 'perfect' body and this has negative effects on how they view themselves and others.
"We hope this report helps to empower men to place their physical and mental health above appearance to ensure we become a nation where body confidence is, in fact, the cultural norm."
He stripped off in an underwear advert spoof alongside David Beckham. The message: "Beauty is skin deep, it's underneath that counts."He also wrote an open letter which was published by Glamour magazine in which he asks people to accept themselves for who they are. "Respect your body. It is what it is, so embrace it," he wrote. "Love every scar, ripple, and imperfection, and you won’t need others to do it for you." (credit:FOX via Getty Images)
David Beckham(02 of07)
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Davey B stars alongside James Corden in the underwear spoof for D&J briefs to promote healthy body image and the idea that beauty is only skin deep. (credit:J. Countess via Getty Images)
Prince Fielder(03 of07)
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Fielder is a baseball player for the Texas Rangers who was featured on the front page of ESPN magazine, naked. The photograph of him was attacked on social media. The baseball player has since spoken out and said that just because a person is plus-size, it doesn't mean they can't be athletic.In an interview with ESPN.com, he said: “A lot of people probably think I’m not athletic or don’t even try to work out or whatever, but I do. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can’t be an athlete. And just because you work out doesn’t mean you’re going to have a 12-pack. I work out to make sure I can do my job to the best of my ability. Other than that, I’m not going up there trying to be a fitness model.” (credit:Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
Matt McGorry(04 of07)
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The Orange Is The New Black star spoke openly about his body concerns during his first shirtless scene on OITNB. He told Yahoo: "I was obsessively dieting, and when I saw that scene before the show ever came out, I thought I had blown it. I was like, 'Oh no! I didn't get as lean as I could've'. But then the show came out, and no one said anything negative about it, and it's funny because from one perspective you could say, 'Oh, he's letting himself go,' but from another perspective, I just don't need that validation I once did."I still love working out, and I think it's good for my health, and I feel good doing it. But I think with mental health, allowing myself to be who I am naturally in terms of my body, I think that's sort of practicing more self-love that way." (credit:Jennifer Lourie via Getty Images)
Gok Wan(05 of07)
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The presenter is an advocate for body confidence in both men and women. He has been incredibly open about his struggles with obesity growing up. He presented a show called Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth, which looked at body image in young people. He also launched a campaign to get body image classes taught in schools across the country. (credit:Dave M. Benett via Getty Images)
Ben Cohen(06 of07)
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The former rugby player has spoken openly about the importance of standing up to bullies. He launched the Ben Cohen Stand Up foundation to raise awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying and to raise funds to support those doing real-world work to stop it.Earlier this year, Cohen was fat-shamed by the Mail Online. "It is time we stand up for what is right and support people who are being harmed. Every person on this planet has a right to be true to themselves, to love and be loved, and to be happy," he said. (credit:Jason Kempin via Getty Images)
Robert Pattinson(07 of07)
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The Twilight actor has been open about his struggles with Body Dysmorphia (BDD), an obsessive anxiety disorder which is characterised by the individual's preoccupation with flaws in his or her appearance which are unnoticeable to others.In the process, he's helped raise awareness of the disorder among men. (credit:Jason Kempin via Getty Images)