Masculinity and Young Men by Megan Spence https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p Looking at how media is affecting young men's perception of their bodies and how they feel about their bodies and exercise. en-us 2016-08-07 10:38:25 UTC 2026-02-24 14:06:38 UTC hello@padlet.com meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117654384 2016-08-07 10:54:42 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117654384 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117654389 2016-08-07 10:54:52 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117654389 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117654506 2016-08-07 11:04:56 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117654506 This padlet is fascinating to me, not because I am male, but because I have 2 sons (aged 21 and 17) and I have become increasingly aware of the objectification of young males in the media. I also wanted to see how exercise related to being male and the pressures they may be feeling. I created a short survey for the boys in my son;s Year 12 class and have attached a copy of this. As the survey was anonymous I was hoping for honesty, but realized there has to be awareness of how you feel to begin with eg.to know if you feel anxious about part of your body and then willingness to admit it! , even in a survey. Even if you know you are anxious about your body or your fitness, actually admitting it may not fit in with the idea of a strong, 'in control' male. It seems to be more socially acceptable for females to admit their worries or anxieties about their bodies (at least to their family and close friends!). I was unable to take the survey due to ethics questions but have attached a copy. meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117857510 2016-08-10 04:04:06 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117857510 COOL HAIR , COOL SHOES and COOL CLOTHES. WHAT NEXT? meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117858204 Perhaps it is consumerism gone mad but young men seem under more pressure to be fashionable or 'cool' while at the same time pretending they don't care. My youngest son had to have a pair of Vns ( the latest is shoes, that look like colorful sandshoes but can cost $120.00). I got him a blue pair on special and a few weeks later he wanted a red pair. I pointed out that he looked great in the blue pair and that the shops want him to think he needs another pair to be cool. He didn't get another pair, mainly because he would have to mow a few lawns to get them! Strangely enough his older brother is happy with one pair of sandshoes and doesn't feel the need to be so fashionable or spend money.
 Justin Beiber has alot to answer for when it comes to young men's hair cuts! It seems to be very clever marketing to encourage young men to have a haircut where half their head is shaved and the other half is long. In only a month they have to go back to the hairdresser again, which makes more money for the hairdresser!]]> 2016-08-10 04:22:27 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117858204 SHIRT OFF!!?? meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117858953 I have been observing ads on TV, Facebook and Rage and there seem to be a lot of pictures of men with bare chests - often tanned and quite muscular. I was wondering how seeing pictures like this affects my older' 'nerdy' pale son who has suffered severe acne in the past. He said it doesn't worry him, he is more concerned with his fitness goals and goes to the gym every night.Even higher in priority for him is high scores in his university studies and he is very competitive and disciplined in this area of his life. His younger brother is always showing me his arm muscles and asking me to touch them! He and his brother talk about 'gains' a lot and it seems important to look muscular.Both boys would be aligned with Connell's hegemonic masculinity being heterosexual and disciplined in their gym exercises and cycling.]]> 2016-08-10 04:42:53 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117858953 WORKING OUT.. meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117961867 2016-08-11 03:08:42 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117961867 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117987752 2016-08-11 10:06:34 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/117987752 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118172110 2016-08-13 04:30:47 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118172110 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118177402 JUSTIN BIEBER HAIR CUT]]> 2016-08-13 12:26:59 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118177402 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118177697 2016-08-13 12:42:20 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118177697 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118177754 2016-08-13 12:44:43 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118177754 HAS AUSTERITY CAUSED YOUNG MEN TO TURN INTO 'SPORNOSEXUALS' meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118178276 Jamie Hakin from 'The Independent' draws correlations between the global financial crisis, the  resulting austerity in various world governments and many young men turning to working on their bodies in order to feel valuable. Shilling also contributes that our body is one area where we can exert control in a world filled with uncertainty (Shilling, 2012 Lecture 3). Hakin further suggests that belonging 'to a social group whose value is defined through the body is a sign of subordination'.(11/8/16) ]]> 2016-08-13 13:09:02 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118178276 REFERENCES meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118178466 Hakin, J. The Independent. 11/8/16
Connell, R.(2005/1995) Ch. 2 Men:s Bodies. Masculinities, Uni of California Press.Berkeley.
Young Albanians Working Out (Motivational Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yntQkslG-]]> 2016-08-13 13:20:53 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118178466 Masculinity and Exercise Survey meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118196685 2016-08-14 09:02:00 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118196685 YOUNG ALBANIANS WORKING OUT (MOTIVATIONAL VID meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118199095 Videos abound to motivate and inspire young men to workout and achieve the perfect male body. I am not sure how many hours a day they would need to devote to work out to achieve this type of body? Nor am I sure what supplements or powders they take to boost results? There is always the temptation to go one step further to steroids...]]> 2016-08-14 11:16:38 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118199095 meganspnce https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118199352 2016-08-14 11:34:09 UTC https://padlet.com/meganspnce/rmp8gx4vol1p/wish/118199352