By: Thea Soleil “Nine” Dona
Anorexia nervosa has conventionally been regarded as a woman's issue, it is an alarmingly increasing problem among men. This paper explores how internalized misogyny, gym culture, and societal norms all come together in perpetuating anorexia and other eating disorders among men. By investigating the roles of hypermasculinity, media, and fitness culture, this study discusses how such forces reinforce deadly body image ideals. Finally, it discusses possible interventions that could be taken to remove both the stigma associated with male eating disorders and the systemic causes of the phenomenon.
Introduction
Anorexia nervosa is a severe mental health disorder, misperceived for so many years as a female condition. However, recent research has indicated that men are also affected, though these experiences more often than not go untaught or dismissed. Both are partly due to internalized misogyny: not only does this fuel men's denial of femininity but it also pushes harmful body ideals.
This is further exacerbated by gym culture, which encourages hypermasculinity and emphasizes leanness and muscularity. Social media reinforces these pressures, creating unrealistic ideals. This paper discusses how internalized misogyny and gym culture combine to perpetuate anorexia in men and urges for targeted interventions and systemic change.
Literature Review
Anorexia and Men
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Anorexia among men usually takes a different course from that of females, and it is associated with a lean body and muscularity rather than thinness alone (Gough & Conner, 2021). Despite its prevalence, male anorexia is often underdiagnosed because of the associated stigma and perception of eating disorders as a "female problem" (Murray et al., 2021).
Internalized Misogyny in Men
Internalized misogyny involves men adopting societal biases against femininity; men deny attributes that are considered "weak" or "feminine."This denial usually culminates in an obsessive search for physical strength and control of the body. According to Smith and Erickson (2020), internalized misogyny may contribute to disordered eating by linking self-worth to hypermasculinity.
Gym Culture and Hypermasculinity
Gym culture often serves as a breeding ground for hypermasculinity, encouraging men to attain unrealistic body standards. The glorification of the “perfect physique” fosters behaviors like overtraining and restrictive dieting, which are closely linked to eating disorders (Atkinson & Kehler, 2020). Gym-goers, or “gym rats,” may develop body dysmorphic tendencies, constantly striving for leanness and muscularity at the expense of their mental and physical health.
Social Media and Influences
Social media platforms amplify these social pressures by idealizing and glamorizing specific types of bodies and extreme behaviors of fitness. Rodgers and Chabrol, 2020, comment on the regard that most fitness influencers endorse disordered behaviors, their claims of "health"
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presented as justification for restrictive eating and excessive exercise. Consequences of this are cyclical comparison and feelings of inadequacy, fostering body image disturbances in males.
Discussion
Intersection of Internalized Misogyny and Male Eating Disorders
Internalized misogyny plays a huge role in male anorexia because men have internalized messages in society that women equate with weakness and men with dominance. This has made many men obsessively try to prove their masculinity through their body shape. In trying to avoid
qualities characteristically associated with women, such as self-compassion and vulnerability, practices that can be harmful are resorted to in achieving this "perfect" body.
The gym culture perpetuates an unreal body standard by promoting the attainment of extreme levels of physical fitness. The gym represents a place for men to prove their masculinity, and too often, as a consequence of their mental health. It comes with overtraining, highly excessive supplement usage, and restrictive dieting, and as such, forms of eating disorders become prevalent among all these groups of individuals as a result. (Atkinson & Kehler, 2020).
Social Media Impacts
Social media amplifies these issues by creating a stream of "perfect" male bodies. Instagram, TikTok, and their ilk normalize extreme fitness regimes and hypermasculine physiques, making comparison an epidemiology itself. Thus, it further alienates the men who do not match up to these standards, pushing them toward harmful behavior to fit into these standards.
Potential Interventions
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Such male anorexia needs to be tackled on many fronts: creating awareness about eating disorders among males and changing the stereotypical view of masculinity. The therapies, most especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, will also help men work through internalized misogyny
for healthier relationships with their bodies. Besides, encouraging all kinds of body shapes in media and fitness culture will help tear down those ideals.
Conclusion
A combination of internalized misogyny, gym culture, and societal pressures puts men in a particularly dangerous spot that feeds into the rise of anorexia and other eating disorders. It is now time for society to take a step forward in addressing the specific problems that males face regarding body image by challenging these systemic issues and fostering open conversations. Further research will continue to explore these dynamics and develop targeted interventions to support men affected by these conditions.
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References
Atkinson, M., & Kehler, M. (2020). Boys, bodies, and anorexia: Exploring disordered eating in male gym culture. Journal of Masculinity Studies, 12(3), 205-222.
Gough, B., & Conner, M. T. (2021). Disrupting the gender binary: Masculinity, anorexia, and the gym. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 22(4), 500-515.
Murray, S. B., Griffiths, S., & Mond, J. M. (2021). The internalized gender double standard and its impact on eating disorders in men. Eating Disorders Review, 29(2), 110-124.
Rodgers, R., & Chabrol, H. (2020). Social media’s role in male body image disturbances: A systematic review. Body Image, 35, 10-21.
Smith, K. E., & Erickson, J. M. (2020). Internalized sexism and its relationship with disordered eating behaviors in men. Gender Studies Journal, 19(1), 45-63.
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