Body image.

86% of men don’t have a positive view of their bodies. Why is this?

What’s the harshest thing you’ve ever said to yourself in the mirror, and would you say it to someone you love?

“Body image.”

How does it feel for you to read those words?

For me, it instantly makes me feel uncomfortable, a bit withdrawn. I imagine a certain image in my mind of the “perfect” male body. An image that feels unattainable, but not for others, only me.

The word “enough” comes into my mind. Is my body good enough? Big enough? Manly enough?

The fact that my mind immediately jumps to negatives, to anxieties, to insecurities, probably tells you plenty about the relationship I generally hold around my body image and my sense of masculinity.

But the sad reality is that I know I’m not alone in how I feel.

In fact, one survey by the Global Equality Collective found that a staggering 86% of men and boys don’t have a positive image of their bodies. As stated in their report, “the most common themes influencing body image were the pressure to look muscular, lean and in shape. Many responses alluded to desiring ‘muscles, 6-pack abs, athletic physique…”

You can download the Global Equality Collective’s report here.

Body image means different things to different people. For some, they’re thinking about their entire body, or a certain group of muscles. Some are worried about their hairline. For others, it’s their penis size. You might have something else that you hold anxiety or insecurity about.

Whatever it means to you, what is truly sad is just how many men don’t hold a positive view of themselves.

Why is this? What impact is it having on men? And what can we do about it? We get into all the nitty-gritty in today’s piece.