# Men and Body Shaming **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571 "2020-11-02T18:51:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/1 "2020-11-02T18:51:37Z")
I posted a thread about this a while ago, but I can’t find the thread and I’m still pissed. I hear people make fun of the supposed size of a man’s junk more and more, and it’s enough to give someone serious body issues. I hear people make fun of men’s stature, and it’s enough to give someone serious body issues. As far as penis size, I’m _normal_ as far as I can tell… But it’s enough to make me seriously paranoid and I don’t know what I would do if I were smaller. I bring up my size because it’s almost inevitable that people will begin to wonder why _I’M_ the one bringing it up, when hardly anyone else will. I’m 5’5" and I HATE being a short male. I don’t think people know what it’s like unless they are short themselves. I sometimes feel ugly, or at least that other people perceive me as being ugly. These are things we really should look at, alongside other things that are unjust. Why is it so okay to body shame men? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/2 "2020-11-02T18:55:48Z")
Well, here’s your old one, it was in MPSIMS > [@Body shaming men.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-shaming-men/854361): > > Small rant. I saw my ex girlfriend post a tweet making fun of some guys height. She’s also goes after a men’s penis size as well. This is a person who should understand the effects body shaming can have on someone. I know that it’s not representative of all women. I do see a lot of it though. Smarter people probably wouldn’t use ad hominem attacks, I guess… it just bothers me because I’m short. Anyway… Any comments welcome and thanks for listening. I went to your profile and just clicked on Topics Created, I found it pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/3 "2020-11-02T18:58:22Z")
Thanks… I tried a Google search. Hope it’s okay to keep this up. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/4 "2020-11-02T19:00:35Z")
Ew… No. Close your door. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/5 "2020-11-02T19:01:31Z")
Sorry… Needs to be said. I’m sure your stomach can handle it. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/6 "2020-11-02T19:01:35Z")
Short answer is that you get it because y’all gave it. The body shaming and policing of women is intense, focused and goes back into the mists of time and now that things are evening up you’re pissed that we employ the same tactics we learned from toddlerhood? What other model are we supposed to have, now that we can get away with expressing OUR feelings and preferences regarding men’s bodies? Sorry y’all don’t like it but I can tell you we’ve been hating it for way longer than you have. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/7 "2020-11-02T19:02:00Z")
Do you feel this is a pit rant? Otherwise I can merge it into the old thread. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/8 "2020-11-02T19:02:41Z")
I feel it has pitt potential. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/9 "2020-11-02T19:03:03Z")
Cool, enjoy. I’m dropping out of it now. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/10 "2020-11-02T19:04:28Z")
For whatever it’s worth - maybe tangentially - there was a comedy/anger website that once complained that for men who are stereotyped as having small penises but in fact have large ones, there’s nothing they can (legally or politely) do to disprove that accusation. It’s not like they can drop their pants on the spot to debunk their accusers, or wear a T-shirt saying “I have an 8 inch cock.” ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/11 "2020-11-02T19:05:40Z")
That’s why it’s so effective as an insult–there is no way to counter that one that doesn’t make someone sound like the petulant child they probably act like because that’s what generates that particular insult. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/12 "2020-11-02T19:08:38Z")
I agree with you. Women have been body shamed no doubt… But outwardly making fun of a female’s body frowned upon now. Not so with men. I KNOW women get the worst of it. I’m not only blaming women for saying things about men’s genitalia or how tall they are. Men do it too. But you act like I personally set the “beauty standard” for women. Make fun of people for more specific reasons… You shouldn’t say: “Well you have a small penis”, because somebody on YOUR SIDE might have a small penis. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/13 "2020-11-02T19:09:07Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > That’s why it’s so effective as an insult–there is no way to counter that one that doesn’t make someone sound like the petulant child they probably act like because that’s what generates that particular insult. Perhaps the thing to do is not to bring it up on a message board in the first place. I mean, it’s all part of maintaining that little bit of mystery, isn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/14 "2020-11-02T19:11:11Z")
I don’t care what people think and it’s anonymous. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/15 "2020-11-02T19:12:55Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > there’s nothing they can (legally or politely) do to disprove that accusation. It’s not like they can drop their pants on the spot to debunk their accusers I’ve always thought I’d get a shirt (or maybe just a button or a status update) that said “Tiniest penis you’ve ever seen.” I mean, any woman would be so impressed that I’m confident and carefree, even though I’m hung like a hamster… and she’d secretly be dying to see it, right? ps, a great side-effect of maturity is that I care less and less what anyone thinks of the size of privates or tummy or height (yeah, I’m short, but so what?). If you judge others by their looks or size, then I’ve got no time for you, I’m too busy hanging out with a better class of people. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/16 "2020-11-02T19:15:02Z")
Not quite sure where you get “frowned upon” from because it’s rampant in every sector of society. Fat women get “Cover up, nobody needs to see THAT” and “Don’t you have any self respect?” and old women likewise get shamed because they no longer fit the narrow parameters of the beauty compliance mandate. “Body positivity” representation in magazines means showing women who are in every respect beauty compliant except for carrying a normal amount of body fat and the editors pat themselves on the back for it. Same with getting older–snarky remarks about how someone “isn’t aging well” are pretty goddamned common and aimed at women way more than men. The relentless pressure to suit the male gaze is omnipresent and oppressive AF and if men are starting to get it too–well, too bad so sad, gonna DO anything to make a change in society to remove all this pressure to look “good?” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/17 "2020-11-02T19:15:16Z")
The badass feminist women in my life go hardcore after anyone who bodyshames men. They’re tear a fuckboi to _pieces_, but if anyone joins in the pile-on by suggesting the fuckboi has a small dick, they’ll turn right around and shut that shit down. They live by their principles, and it’s awesome. As another 5’5" dude, I hear you. Straight up the shit I get for being short is nothing like what a woman gets for being (for example) fat or (for another example) old. It’s a tiny percentage. But FWIW it sometimes sucks, and if you’re the sort of vicious asshole who thinks turnabout’s fair play, well, you’re not part of the patriarchy or anything, and you’re not oppressing me, but you’re a vicious asshole. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/18 "2020-11-02T19:17:52Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’ve always thought I’d get a shirt (or maybe just a button or a status update) that said “Tiniest penis you’ve ever seen.” My second husband had a favorite joke about a man who takes his pants off first time having sex with a woman and she says “OMG, look at that teeny little thing! Who do you think you’re going to please with THAT?” and he says “ME!” That’s confidence, that is. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/19 "2020-11-02T19:20:13Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > “Cover up, nobody needs to see THAT” and “Don’t you have any self respect?” If this is the case, and I trust you… Then that’s BS and deserves it’s own pitting. besides fat is something you can see outwardly whereas penises are something that are hidden so when you make fun of a man’s size… You COULD be making fun of the man next to you, who has your back, than the one you’re arguing be against. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571/20 "2020-11-02T19:21:15Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I’m 5’5" and I HATE being a short male. I don’t think people know what it’s like unless they are short themselves. I sometimes feel ugly, or at least that other people perceive me as being ugly. I’m 5’ 5" and I’ve never gotten that impression from society. I can honestly say that it’s never been a problem for me. It may be different for young men growing up today, but aside from being awful at basketball and volleyball, it really hasn’t been a factor in my life that I’m aware of. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-and-body-shaming/924571.md?page=2)