We love sharing with you the best body image pieces the interwebs have to offer. We have great pleasure in presenting this fantastic piece by Allan, originally posted on ajbisherenow.tumblr.com
We’ve touched on the impact of body image pressures for males before, and this piece is insightful, thought-provoking and eye-opening.
It’s long, but worth a read, so grab a comfy seat and get ready to have your mind blown!
Today Darwin made news when a local gym kicked out a woman for wearing shorts that were, well, apparently too short. The national gym franchise has a dress code that asks its members not to turn up in crop tops, or anything that shows the torso, and apparently about the length and appropriateness of shorts, which it says is due to the desire to create a comfortable environment for all of its members.
Short length – an issue? Source: http://www.ntnews.com.au
This has caused wide spread debate – are the shorts really too short/tight/revealing? Does the gym have an alterior motive and dislike for this woman?
It’s an interesting topic to have caught the eye of the national press. I mean COME ON AUSTRALIA. We have crocs and stuff, and THIS is what you choose to cover? But I digress. I wonder whether there is something else to explore here. What if gym dress codes DO make it more comfortable for people who want to just go and have a work out, without the distraction of someone’s super toned abs or buns of steel in their eyeballs? On the flip side, what if in telling people what they should and should not feel comfortable in at the gym is counter productive to their confidence, workout and freedom of expression?
It actually reminds me of a conversation that was had on the Skin Deep facebook page about fitness motivationals, when a member of our community spoke up for people not framing things in a way that has a negative effect on them. Is this all just a massive, unnecessary furor over someone’s bum? Should we all just get over it and remember that we go to the gym for us, not for the person over there who still looks glam after an hour on the treadie, or who might slice my hand off with their abs? ‘Cause we’re there for ourselves as much as they are, we are not that person, and that’s ok. Stop looking and get on with it.
All I’m saying is ladies, if you want to wear short tight shorts to the gym and that’s what gets you going, FLAUNT IT SISTER. If I see you feeling good, rocking out in something you feel comfortable in, I might just give you a sweaty high five.
What do you think – important discussion, or a whole load of fluff about nothing?
The Skin Deep Project 