Dealing with the Media's Portrayal of Men

A great deal of attention is given to the portrayal of women in media, and rightly so.  The images of impossibly thin, flawless females that we see every way we turn can have a devastating impact on the self-esteem of girls and women.  But men are not immune to the portrayal of other men in the media either.

Physically, the ideal man is portrayed as tall, dark, handsome, and muscular.  While it’s not difficult to find men in the media who do not match this description, such men are rarely presented in a favorable light.  They play the parts of the whip-cracking bosses, the nerdy cousins, and the bumbling best friends rather than the protagonists.

Another stereotype of men that is prevalent in the media is that they are unemotional.  While it is generally acceptable for them to express positive emotions and anger, emotions that are associated with femininity such as sadness and compassion are frowned upon.  Men are encouraged by the media, society, and even those close to them to suppress these emotions, because they are not perceived as manly.

How These Stereotypes Affect Men

It is easy to see that all men are not like those who are presented favorably on television and in the movies.  Yet more and more boys are becoming concerned with their physiques, and they often take dangerous risks to look more like these men.  They may go on improper diets, use protein supplements, or even inject steroids to make their bodies look more like the ideals they see.

The issue of acceptable and unacceptable emotions, while less physically hazardous, is somewhat more complicated.  Because the idea of not showing their emotions has become so ingrained in the male psyche, many truly believe that it is a man’s nature to be less emotional than a woman.  But in reality, no one is immune to any emotion just because of his or her gender.

The idea that certain emotions should not affect men also undermines efforts to eliminate these stereotypes.  Society makes it difficult for men to admit that they find themselves inadequate, so they suffer in silence and continue to attempt to change their bodies to fit into the molds that the media approves of.  In order to break the cycle, men must be willing to stand up and fight the misperceptions about how they should look and feel.

The negative effects of media images are not just a women’s problem.  Boys are falling into the same traps as girls regarding what their bodies should look like, and an unwillingness to talk about it makes it difficult for them to break free.  Recognizing the problem and getting it out in the open is a crucial first step in fighting the media’s misinformation about men and women.