Morlaity behind Physique

Adrian Peterson: NFL Minnesota Vikings

As part of modern society we as individuals fight every day between the ethical and the aesthetic. Whether it’s that article of clothing that calls out to you or your heart screaming out that such a practice is so unethical it must be stopped. As a man, it’s hard to say how fashion can affect us the same way it does women. One thing that is true is that men are more often judged on their physical appearance than their fashionable one. Often, major figures that we, as individuals in society, look up to are at their physical peak: being sports figures, actors and body builders. Let’s face it; for men it is fashionable and aesthetically pleasing to be buff.

Body Builder

Daniel Craig: James Bond

This theme of being at our peak physical condition as men is considered extremely important by societal standards. It comes at us from doctors, spouses, friends, and the opposite sex.  Whether it’s for finding a companion (because more often than not woman find physically fit men to be more attractive) or for your own personal gain to stay in shape. Doctors tell us to stay in shape for our         health, especially since the stresses in our lives can build up into such negatives affects if you don’t keep up with your health. And even when we finally have the time to relax, we can be watching sports where extremely fit men are running around at their greatest physical abilities.

Now, the benefits to being in great physical condition are pretty obvious. First off, it gets the annoying doctors of your back telling you to lose those extra pounds and on the surface gives you great health benefits. But, knowing that you are fit also has certain mental benefits. Your entire mindset changes, your confidence builds up, you have more energy, and you are more ready to take on the world (including the ladies).

But, if you are not part of this group that spends their time staying in shape, there are certain drawbacks. First, physically you can run into health issues, often such as heart disease and stress-related diseases. Mentally, you can be secluded. To oneself, you could see yourself as a failure and this can lead to depression. Society can also start to alienate you through peer groups and isolation for being overweight and out of shape.

While all of these positives to exercising sound great, even being in shape has its certain health risks. While staying in shape, there is always the risk that overexertion can happen, causing stress fractures, breaks, tears and certain deficiencies. Sometimes, people can take this “perfect” body image too far and exercise too long or fall into bad habits such as doping and changing their lifestyle which can cause other health risks. All of these factors must be kept in balance while also holding the pressure to be "fit" at bay. 

18th Century Fashion

While some would consider the "fit expectations" of society to be a tad extreme, today’s modern views towards body and physical fitness are very different from that of historical views. If we were to analyze this to the 18th Century enlightenment thinkers' mentality, their search for equality would supersede society's push to conform us to our physical peak. They would look for everyone to become equal through attire that covers the body entirely. It was often a burden socially to be the the "most fit" because these were labor hands that worked in tough dirty jobs. These physically fit people were actually often frowned upon. In those times, being more "plump" was considered to be more attractive because it was a sign of affluence.

While the 19th century saw the birth of romanticism and the change to a more egocentric view of individuality, the attitudes towards physique didn't change. Laborers were still generally the most fit people and the most looked down upon because of their jobs and filthier living conditions. This view towards the more physically fit man being a non laborer and more of a role model stayed mostly until the mid-20th century. This is the time where literature and Hollywood started portraying "thinner" men as the "wooing" type, sometimes hinting at their physique through tighter more cut costumes.

19th Century Fashion

 These historical views are still radically different from our modern views towards displaying the peak male physique. In the essay, “Fashion, Identity, and Social Factors,” by Laura Bovone, she says “modern culture includes the account of progress” (pg. 84). She illustrates the process that men have gone through from early history to modern times with gaining more freedom in their dress and social standings. It is now socially acceptable  to change and bulk for a sexier more manly body shape. However, even though she says we work for progress she also concludes, “Socially determined we may be, yet we constantly search for the crevices in the culture that open moments of freedom" (pg.84). Bovone states that while we are striving to fit in socially in this case with our bodies, we can also take pride in the way that our bodies look. Even to men in studies they find more chizzeled bodies to be more attractive.  He is conforming to societies urges but
 finding personal satisfaction that he can transform his body 
into such a beautiful condition.

So, as a man, how do I balance this idea to stay physically in shape while retaining my individuality from societies norms? When I took the Shwarts Value Inventory test, my top three values were Self-direction (creative freedom), Hedonism (pleasure), and Stimulation (having an exciting life). My bottom three values were Security (social order), Conformity, and Tradition (humility). So, according to this test, I live my life mostly with the openness to change. I find it to be a very accurate representation of myself.

It can easily be inferenced that I choose to live my life on my own terms. So, when it comes to societies pressure to stay in shape, I generally listen with a faint of caring. I stay in shape for myself. I want to stay in shape so that when I want to go outside and be active, I have the physical endurance to do so. As an individual, I do not slave myself to societies view of what my body should look like.

How can this outlook hurt me? It could be said that since I emphasize the mindset to keep an active body that I will lose out on doing other activities such as enjoying myself while not being active such as playing video games or eating certain fattier foods. The possibility of injuring myself while I am being active is also a downside. In the end, if these are the only downsides that I have to worry about while staying active, with the benefits it gives socially and physically, I wouldn't change a thing.