Who among us hasn’t looked in the mirror and wished something was different? But it might be good practice to start accepting the things we can’t change, so to speak, especially since poor body image can be detrimental to our mental health.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2019, a spokesperson for the Mental Health Foundation cited research suggesting that “higher body dissatisfaction is associated with poorer quality of life, psychological distress, and risk of unhealthy eating behaviors and eating disorders.”
Meanwhile, Josh Bradlow, a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ equality organization Stonewall, told the newspaper that “stereotypical assumptions and beliefs about masculinity and femininity can be deeply damaging for how anyone—especially LGBT people—see themselves and their bodies.”
At least these insecurities seem to fall away with age. In a recent poll of more than four thousand UK adults, 57 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds admitted to body-image anxieties, though that number fell to 30 percent for 45- to 54-year-olds and 20 percent for those 55 and over.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In any case, users of Reddit’s r/askgaybros subreddit recently listed the attributes that guys shouldn’t feel insecure about, and their responses might put you at ease. Scroll down to read some of those comments—which have been edited for readability—and let’s all try to be a little kinder to our bodies and everyone else’s.
Penis size
“After all, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“It’s obvious, yet it took years for me to finally get that and get over it.”
“Most guys are not big.”
“Seeing someone just because of their d*ck size is incredibly dehumanizing. If they want to f*ck because you’ve got a big d*ck, they’re just using you as an object. If they think you’re ‘too small,’ that’s just being treated as inferior.”
Belly fat
“I’ve always hated my own gut, and I’m still trying to get a small one through proper diet and exercise, but whenever I see a top with a gut or six-pack, I don’t mind. I prefer if they don’t, ‘cause it means we can eat out more and have days of just doing nothing together.”
“So, two things: A) Guys with guts tend to also have asses, which is my favorite part of the body, even as a bottom. B) This is going to sound weird, but I like the feeling of a gut touching my gut [during] missionary. I don’t know if it’s more comfortable or just the skin-on-skin contact, but something about it makes it very hot for me.”
“This is such a young person thing. The hottest guy I hooked up with had a gut. He was just so manly and hot and thick. When we are young, being in shape matters, and to an extent, it does in general, but I think we learn to be a little more open-minded as we get older. Well, some of us do. And if we don’t, that’s OK.”
Related: How this husky guy overcame his body image issues and learned to embrace his size
Body hair
“Lots of people find that shit attractive AF, myself included. Can’t stand the gays that shame others just because of body hair.”
“My friend has this problem. Super cute lil’ brown twink, hairy as f*ck, though. I always thought it was kinda hot, even though I preferred smooth. Not only was it not a dealbreaker, there was something about it that was attractive.”
Hair loss
“Bald is just as sexy as a full head of hair.”
“Yup, and attempting to hide going bald with haircuts like a combover is actually pretty unattractive.”
“Don’t make fun of people for it. Literally not your fault and limited stuff can be done about it.”
Stretch marks
“Sometimes they just happen during puberty, and even people who are fit their entire lives can have them.”
Related: Guys of all shapes and sizes are striking poses for this sexy, must-see photo series
Nudity
“Nothing less attractive than when you’re trying to get it on and they’re reluctant to take their clothes off or let you see them naked. Like, dude, I’ve agreed to have sex with you. I clearly find you at least a little bit attractive.”
Masculinity and femininity
“Masculinity is very subjective, and also, feminine men are very attractive.”
“You’re not less of a man just because you show emotions or have feminine character traits. That goes for guys in general.”
“One thing I love about being gay, considering i’ll be out of the closet at one point, is that I don’t have to feel ashamed when I lose my sh*t over cute stuff or when i’m being emotional or too soft. people might just be like, ‘Yeah, he’s like that
‘cause he’s gay,’ which seems like an allowance to be like that, lol. But yeah, it shouldn’t be a topic anyways. We should feel good with how we are in either way, gay or not.”
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v6origal97
Thank you, for this.
johncp56
Did they mention older LOL
bachy
We live in what anthropologists call a “Beauty Culture.” Ancient Egypt was such a culture, in that beauty was very important to people on all levels of society. If you live in a beauty culture, there is a lot of pressure to exhibit some kind of beauty.
I believe it’s important to play up your best feature. Everyone has at least one beautiful thing about them. Maybe you have beautiful hands. Or beautiful teeth. Or a beautiful posture.
Me, I have the most beautiful ass in all of Los Angeles. It’s embarrassing sometimes, but I do what I can to make the most of it.
shanek
We all enjoy walking behind you, bachy. :p
bachy
@shanek:
As the wise old saying goes, “Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don’t walk beside me, I am not your friend. Just walk behind me, and admire my glutes.”
Kangol2
Shake that moneymaker, Bachy!
Diplomat
Bachy,
I hear the wolves howling in the Hollywood Hills.
bachy
@Diplo: “Ask not for whom the wolves howl…”
Diplomat
When you’re dancing at the window in your underwear to Thriller, I doubt you’ll be too hard to spot. At least let’s hope.
Stefano
And how would that make me feel better about myself? People, especially Americans, place a great deal of importance on physical appearance and worship beautiful bodies and perfect, youthful faces. This whole charade is just an argument for beautiful people to tell other less beautiful or ugly people to accept themselves as they are and to keep their mouths shut. I do not adhere to this hypocritical world of unicorns and Care bears.
Jaquelope
You’re not the only one. I never consider anyone as being physically ugly, and having been with a few “beautiful” men, I found I prefer those who might be considered homely or even ugly by others because those are the ones I find more interesting in appearance. That’s not to say I won’t admire the looks of a good-looking man, but I’ve often found that good looks are generally all they have going for them, with personalities like wet cardboard.
CityguyUSA
So bald ok combover not. How is that any different than any other judgement?
winemaker
Sadly gay culture is all about youth and how attractive or plain and simple how ‘hot’ you are all while ignoring character. And sadly many look at men over 40 years old not worth getting to know. If you don’t meet these standards (youth and hotness) you are often treated rudely and dismissed as unimportant and not worth getting to know, sad to say. Having been out for some time made me aware how shallow and superficial many gay men are who have such high standards for perfection that in reality can’t be found as the perfect person hasn’t been born and never will be born.. Many of us starve ourselves and workout until we almost drop just to look good or fit into gay societies standards all when there’s no set standard. Gay men can be some of the rudest and nastiest guys to other gay men who don’t meet their standards of ‘hotness’, whatever that is and living in San Francisco this has been my observation. As we move on in life things we obsessed about (many times to the point of being neurotic) when we were younger, over time often become less important.