from: Sarah
This picture portrays many aspects of socialization when it comes to boys. In this picture you see my teenage brother Michael lifting weights. When I asked him why he lifts weights he said, "All the girls like muscles." Our society and media show that if you look good you are a winner. Also if boys have muscles they must be tough. I like how the mirror shows the weight lifting and his upper body. If you notice he is not smiling in this picture. This shows muscles are serious business. Also it represents how insecure he is with his body by not having muscles. The poster of the man gives us an idea of what he is striving for. The trophy in the background represents winning. An athlete is muscular, strong, healthy, and has a good body. The photo makes a statement about how media and society have influenced teenagers to look and act a certain way to be popular.
4 comments:
I think this picture is a perfect depiction of body issues within males. I think that most people categorize females with insecurities with their body image. This picture shows that boys too can feel insecure in regard to their body. The boy in the photograph looks young and has small muscles. The poster in the background portrays what the boy thinks he should look like when he is older. The boy in the photograph feels that in order to be accepted by society he must look and act a certain way. The man in the poster is a wrestler and looks very tough and intimidating. This probably influenced the boy's facial expression in the photograph because he has a very serious face and is not smiling at all. The poster of the females in the bikini's represents the reward of being a "tough guy". The boy in the photograph believes that if he has muscles and looks good, he will be rewarded with a pretty girl. The females in the bikini's show that the boy wants to be accepted by women. The boy has obviously been influenced immensely by the media's portrayal of men. He is trying to conform to the typical male persona.
I think this is a perfect example of the issues that young boys are facing today. Usually when you think of fitting in and trying to fit the beauty standards in America today you think of girls, when the reality is that boys are having the same problems. I think that boys do a better job of hiding there insecurities than girls do.
Before, I really didn't think that boys had the same body image problems as girls do. But now I have come to realize that they suffer from the same standards. The poster of the wrestler on his wall represents the almost impossible standard of what a man should look like in todays society. Many young men, in their quest to achieve this image, resort to harmful measures such as using steriods. Most of them don't realize that this body image standard is impossible to reach and work themselves up to believing its achievable.
Its kinda scary that boys are becoming more and more obsessive about muscles when steroid use is becoming out of control and you hear about these famous superstars who go crazy and kill people because they too were obsessed with muscles. Its also amazing to see this young guy so serious about his weight lifting. I think the parents should also tech the young man that lifting weights is actually really bad for you if you life too much. You can develop poorly and it can stunt your growth. And being tough will only get you so far and thats something that i think should be taught to our young men that sensitivity, and being nice can also get you the girl.
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