People have always been concerned about body image, constantly counting what’s considered good or bad. It’s important to remember that these standards change over time. These days, we often hear about the criticisms women face about their shapes, something that sadly affects their mental wellbeing.
But, let’s not forget that men also face these same kinds of pressures. Think about the insecurities they might feel about their muscle tone, weight, hair loss and health – a lot of it comes from seeing highly-fit stars plastered everywhere. This also contributes to men’s mental health issues, not unlike what women face.
If we look at the past, we’ll see that the so-called ‘perfect’ male body has changed a lot. In ancient Greece (from 800 BC to 146 BC), stories about gods and heroes inspired the image of the ‘ideal’ male as muscular, strong and slim-waisted, though this wasn’t realistic for most Greeks. Long hair pulled back by a headband signified power and wealth among these men.
Then we moved to the Elizabethan Age (1558 – 1603) where thicker, stronger bodies with powerful legs and broader shoulders were all the rage. Men styled their hair with hot irons to create long curls, setting a new trend.
In the late 1800s to early 1900s, also known as the Gilded Age, the trend shifted again to larger bodies and bigger bellies, symbolizing wealth and higher status. Short hair with a side part was the go-to hairstyle during this time.
When Hollywood entered the scene in the 20th century, body standards changed quite dramatically. The camera tended to enlarge people, so actors gave us a new image: lean, toned and athletic. They also popularized a short to medium taper haircut, either with a side parting or pushed back slick.
Then came the Age of Counterculture in the mid-1960s to 1970s. Icons like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix replaced the toned athletic body with a thinner, more slender build. Hair evolved too, with longer cuts, ponytails and afro styles becoming popular.
Fast forward to the 1980s, the era of bodybuilders. Stars like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger popularized huge, powerful muscles, taking us back somewhere close to those Greek ideals. The popular hairstyle of the period? The mullet – short at the front and sides, long at the back.
Then in the 1990s to 2000s, a more relaxed body type became the norm, as exemplified by Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. With the rise of TV and the music industry, a wider variety of male appearances were accepted. Likewise, we saw different hairstyles like quiffs, fringe curtains and dyed tips emerging.
The latest shift came with the rise of the ‘dad bod’ from 2015 to the present. Nowadays, actors like Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan teach us that wider torsos are not just okay, they’re positively cool. And these men keep it simple when it comes to hair with short, easy-to-manage cuts.
By tracking these shifts over time, we can see that body pressures on men are just as real as those faced by women. Thankfully, the conversation is now changing to denounce body shaming and encourage body positivity and mental health support. We can hope that as this trend continues, the notion of ‘ideal’ body types will become less important.
