What a Dove REAL MEN Campaign would look like

Women have Barbie, men have He-Man. The difference between how we deal with these "ideal" body types is simple: men aren't bat $#!t insane.

I'd bang em all

from the way you carry on, we assume there isn't anyone you wouldn't

Anyone who believes that men aren't affected by that stuff is delusional. Men are sorted and ranked by physical attributes beginning in preschool. Every day for a young boy is a constant measuring of oneself. The difference is that we are not taught to think about it. We're taught to not question it. To shut up and accept it. If you don't like where you're ranked, fight for it. Otherwise just shut up and keep your head down.

He. He he. "...constant measuring of oneself."

My guess is that the dudes had fun doing that. I just don't think most guys give a **** what male models look like as most of us are too busy looking at women.

LOLOLLLL!!!!
Love how the first guy looks like he was fighting to keep a straight face XD
Sorry, that's all I can focus on now. His facial expression.. Priceless!!!

UPlus, if not for male models, I don't think nearly as many men would try so damn hard to look like them in the first place.

Is that necessarily a bad thing? Would the world really be a better place where there was no competition to look good and everyone felt complacent all the time? I'm not so sure. I personally like the motivation, it sets the bar high.

Anyone who believes that men aren't affected by that stuff is delusional. Men are sorted and ranked by physical attributes beginning in preschool. Every day for a young boy is a constant measuring of oneself. The difference is that we are not taught to think about it. We're taught to not question it. To shut up and accept it. If you don't like where you're ranked, fight for it. Otherwise just shut up and keep your head down.

People are also 'ranked' by intelligence. Should we also avoid anything that portrays anyone as highly intelligent because it's harmful to average and stupid people?

Anyone who believes that men aren't affected by that stuff is delusional. Men are sorted and ranked by physical attributes beginning in preschool. Every day for a young boy is a constant measuring of oneself. The difference is that we are not taught to think about it. We're taught to not question it. To shut up and accept it. If you don't like where you're ranked, fight for it. Otherwise just shut up and keep your head down.

People are also 'ranked' by intelligence. Should we also avoid anything that portrays anyone as highly intelligent because it's harmful to average and stupid people?

definitely not what he's sayin' brah

Anyone who believes that men aren't affected by that stuff is delusional. Men are sorted and ranked by physical attributes beginning in preschool. Every day for a young boy is a constant measuring of oneself. The difference is that we are not taught to think about it. We're taught to not question it. To shut up and accept it. If you don't like where you're ranked, fight for it. Otherwise just shut up and keep your head down.

People are also 'ranked' by intelligence. Should we also avoid anything that portrays anyone as highly intelligent because it's harmful to average and stupid people?

definitely not what he's sayin' brah

Striving to improve ourselves is a good thing. I think that is what he was saying and I agree. As for the differences in messages, the impact on men and women does seem to be different, and perhaps that is because men are more likely to tie their body images to sports performance. Think about how many men even notice male models vs. how many men watch and/or play football. I could be wrong, and I can't believe I'm getting serious in this thread, but this belief is a large part of why my wife and I focus a good bit of our time with our daughters on athletics. That gives them something to physically strive for that isn't tied solely to what they see in the mirror, though it should have a positive impact there too.

Yeah...I need some pot bellies going on. Manorexia is popular for the same reason as anorexia is for women. I like my men muscley, but I also like for them to look like they like to eat...thats just me though

Agreed! This new fad of skinny jean wearing men who look skinnier than my left thigh is highly unappealing.

I actually think the lot of them are attractive, but my personal favourite is the chap in the very first panel. I'm kind of a sucker for guys in glasses too, so the third "real" model is definitely a heart throb for me too!

On the one hand, I love that Dove is broadcasting the message that creating, and upholding idealized, often unattainable standards of beauty is only sort of soul-crushing to those of us who don't (or, at least, THINK we don't) meet them. On the other hand, I am so very skeptical. Oh, so skeptical. In the end, after all, they are trying to SELL ALL TEH SOAP!

At the very least, I'm glad that, in this instance, advertising is moving away from fear mongering and towards more positive messages about self image.

I like the beard on baldy. Yes, jealous.
*goes off to pout*

This is actually pretty good to hear. I am around 20-something amateur and a few pro MMA fighters several times a week at my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu place, and I was beginning to feel bad that I don't have a 6-pack all the time. I know, very 'First World Problems', but for someone who never used to care all that much, this does help me re-calibrate just a bit.

Oh, and I am now even more happy to be a beardy/baldy!

Women have Barbie, men have He-Man. The difference between how we deal with these "ideal" body types is simple: men aren't bat $#!t insane.

There's a huge difference here.

When men see an ideal male, they aspire to be like him. When a woman see an ideal woman, she makes a tumblr about how that ideal is not real, or not what men want, or a crazy obsessed person who hates themselves. (see fat acceptance movement)

Men climb to reach the mountain top. Women complain that there is a mountain top and declare wherever they are to be the new mountain top.

Love it.


@ JamesRustler - I can agree with you to a certain extent. Except I am a woman climbing for the mountain top. I think a lot of the problem is that women are raised to believe that only men can reach the top. Women are degraded and put down a lot in our society, portrayed as weak and inferior to men. So yes, men will go for the goals and women will feel helpless and like the goals are unreachable. A lot of our challenge is realizing our own strength and pushing through all of the crap that gets dumped on us daily.