Summary of Lure of the Body Image by Susan Mcclelland

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D.Warholik English 255 February 23, 2011 Summary Of The Lure of the Body Image By Susan McClelland In the article “The Lure of the Body Image”, Susan McClelland examines the increasing awareness of an idealized male body image among men in modern society. She discovers an alarming rise in the number of young men using extreme measures to attain this body image. The author begins by introducing us to Ralph, a 30-year-old man who decided to lose some weight. Ralph claims that media has a huge impact on the way he sees his body. Modern society is surrounded with media, such as magazines, that depicts a certain body image; a body image that is “beefy and muscled.” The author then states that statistics “show an alarming number” of younger men using steroids to obtain this idealized look, but this is not the only concern. Eating disorders in men are on the rise and more men are seeking plastic surgery procedures. McClelland writes, “The emphasis on the beefcake look has evolved.” Author, Signorile, and philosopher, Pronger say that all types of men, gay and straight, are becoming more interested in changing their body image and published reports say they are spending more money and time than women in all areas related to fitness. McClelland then takes us back to the issue of media. She describes the new trend of using “bulkier versions” of past male models by big companies, such as Nike and Marlboro. The essay then examines the reality of obtaining “the beef-cake look.” Anabolic steroids were previously consumed for athletic performance but in modern society they are being used to change physical appearance. The author interviews a former body builder, Mike, who agrees that today’s men use steroids for body image. Mike touches base on the results of combining bodybuilding with steroids by stating that men seem to think they are never big enough. McClelland compares

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