Body Image Effects On Women

Body image has a large impact in society, and not only affects women but affects men as well. The ideal body image is often enforced by media and it affects how we view ourselves. Many individuals are unhappy with their own body and feel uncomfortable in their own skin due to misrepresentations of beautiy in the media. In the bodybuilding community, males are constantly dissatisfied with how they view themselves. They do not feel like they are strong, big, or manly enough and therefore try to change their body image with the use of drugs . The idea of masculinity has a huge role in how males perceives themselves and how they treat others. Body image is identified as the mental representation individuals have about the shape size, and characteristics …show more content…
One of the most famous competitors in the Olympia was Arnold Schwarzenegger who openly confessed to taking steroids. Steroids and other growth hormones have harmful effects on the body such as “damged liver, kidneys, and also increased heart size”(Keeney). Most of the bodybuilders who die due to steroid abuse were in their late twenties. These men are often idolized because they took their passion to the exteme, where they died in doing something they enjoyed. Men are injecting large amounts of testosterone that have side effects that also affect their appearance. Gynecomastia is an unwated side effect where male breasts start to develop and have the appearnace of female breasts. When it is apparent that a bodybuilder suffers from gynecomastia other people criticize them and use terms such as “man boobs, and bitch tits” (Natty or Not). Even when bodybuilders are fueling their hypermasculinity they are still often subjected to being marked as femenine even though they are doing everything in there power to be …show more content…
They are often ridiculized because there is this idea that “gay men are feminine” (Kimmel 16). Kai Greene is a runner up for Mr. Olympia, and has been the joke of many probodybuilders because he participated in gay for pay. Although his fame may have suffered to a certain amount after being caught doing gay for pay, it is shown that even if a man is gay “there may be a chance he could be considered masculine by other men” (Pascoe 10). Kai Greene still identifies as straight and only participated in gay for pay in order to help pay for supplements and his gym membership. Although he did perform gay sexual acts, he is still considered masculine. There are debates suggesting that he will never be Mr. Olympia because of his undesriable past. He is still considered masculine because of his enormous body, and his popularity in the sport. Although he did do homosexual acts, he is not considered a “fag”. Many individuals say that Kai Greene and other gay for pay bodybuilders should not participate in shows anymore, because it would lead younger bodybuilders down the same