Why are so many men obsessed with getting abs?

[PGWo]

I see it on the cover of any men's magazines when I go out. Why do men starve themselves and spend every waking hour working out just to get some bumps on their stomach?
Do they actually think it would impress women? Any woman who cares about abs probably isn't worth their time anyway.

Because abs are sexual!

@Regularsizedrudy

What does it mean?

@Brett239

Because abs are sexual!

Do they have little dicks, these sexual abs?

We can talk a lot about moving on from steriotypes, not expecting men to be masculine and women to be feminine.. The reality is the sexual attraction is very physical thing, inevitably driven by physical appearance. And to be honest I would much prefer someone who cares about six packs rather than has a beer belly from sitting on the sofa all day

I’m incredibly confused by your posts OP and unsure what your actual point is.

I don’t think it’s ‘why do you like abs?’ because you won’t identify with any of the answers because you don’t like the way they look. I’m not keen on hairy chests, but I can appreciate that some people are and it’s not a reflection on people who have them.

What’s the actual issue here for you? It seems to be that you are offended that some people won’t find your husband attractive because he doesn’t have abs but that’s a bit odd so I’m wondering what else is going on here.

@PGWo I just meant be careful because I assume you wouldn't want men to be noticing your bum in the supermarket. 🤷‍♂️

How should I change my behaviour to stop that?

@PGWo

What's British masculinity? *@EssexLioness*

@5128gap
It's funny, because earlier I was accused of being a misandrist, now I'm being accused of being a man!
I can't prove to you that I'm a woman, but I am.

@PurpleDaisies
I just meant be careful because I assume you wouldn't want men to be noticing your bum in the supermarket. 🤷‍♂️

Sorry, it auto corrected from your term ‘brutish masculinity’

British masculinity is flexing your muscles while queuing for a cup of tea.

[quote PurpleDaisies]**@PGWo* I just meant be careful because I assume you wouldn't want men to be noticing your bum in the supermarket.* 🤷‍♂️

How should I change my behaviour to stop that?[/quote]
Maybe you should just leave your bum at home next time. I mean, god forbid that a random man may discover women have boobs or a bum!

@Iwonder08

Not every man is either a fat sofa potato or shredded monster with 2% bodyfat. There is a lot in between.

The very culture that celebrates men having six-packs is the same culture that wants men to be violent and aggressive. The idea that men with abs are attractive to women wouldn't have come about if women weren't thought of as helpless creatures who need big, strong men to protect them.

@EssexLioness
@PurpleDaisies
I'm not saying you need to do anything or change your behaviour. I'm saying just as she wouldn't want men at the supermarket noticing her body she shouldn't objectify men.

Weird how you won’t explain how sports people are both unhealthy and on steroids.

@1forAll74
What's gross about tattoos?
@heartofgrass
I'm not the only one aligning abs with masculinity. Other people here such as
@hamstersarse, @elidelochanthefirst, and @Branleuse have said abs are attractive because they convey masculinity.
You see, the idea that muscular men are attractive is rooted in the idea that men need to be aggressive and violent. That's why rugby players are as popular as they are.

@BattledoreAndShuttlecock @5128gap
I'm assuming the two of you watch Love Island. Notice how all of the men with abs in the show are obnoxious jerks who manipulate women.

@Simonjt
Keeping bodyfat below 10% os unsustainable and requires unhealthy dieting.

@5128gap
Did what work, exactly? I'm not denying women have itnworse. I'm saying that demeaning men for not having abs which you did in your first comment doesn't make anything better.
Also, the only men I know who think they're God's gift to women whilst drinking pints are muscular rugby players.
By the way, how did you meet these young men with "amazing-looking" abs who also eat junk food? Are you dating them?

[quote PGWo]@EssexLioness
@PurpleDaisies
I'm not saying you need to do anything or change your behaviour. I'm saying just as she wouldn't want men at the supermarket noticing her body she shouldn't objectify men.[/quote]
Where have I been objectifying men? That’s a totally ridiculous accusation.

You told me to “be careful”. That means changing something I am doing to take more care. I don’t know what being careful regarding my bum and my boobs in the supermarket means. It sounds like you don’t either.

Also, the only men I know who think they're God's gift to women whilst drinking pints are muscular rugby players.

Haha good one, absolutely not. Plenty of men across all stereotypes think this- in fact in my experience the worst are self proclaimed nice guys who think they're just so nice that if you dare not want to be with them aren't you just a bitch. Ew.

I’m a professional sportsman, I have been for 15 years, for those 15 years I’ve had abs. Virtually every man I play rugby with has abs. No unhealthy dieting, just sensible eating (most of the time) and being physically active.

Odd that you think virtually all sports people are unhealthy.

Rugby isn't a healthy sport at all. It's basically organized bullying. Rugby players are riddled with injuries and concussions. That's why most doctors advise against letting children below 16 play.

What do you have against rugby anyway? Are you actually a jealous bloke?

@PGWo

Rugby isn't a healthy sport at all. It's basically organized bullying. Rugby players are riddled with injuries and concussions. That's why most doctors advise against letting children below 16 play.

Ah, so being able to run for 80 minutes is unhealthy. Never had a concussion, never had injuries beyond the odd bruise or pulled muscle. Broke my arm playing a very dangerous sport, tennis.

You’ve made some really unpleasant, objectionable comments on the thread but this one is a real corker.

Where is your evidence that “most doctors advise against playing rugby under 16” or is this just something you’ve made up?

@Patchbatch

What do you have against rugby anyway? Are you actually a jealous bloke?

Too many abs on one field for her to cope with!!!!!

Maybe rugby players should take care in supermarkets in case their abs make women objectify them.

[quote PGWo]@Ifailed

Yes, and that's part of the irony. The women who are attracted to abs like them because they indicate brute masculinity (i.e. aggression, volatility, violence, etc). So that's why they'd be attracted to rugby players but probably wouldn't care about ballerinos. The fact that he does ballet would turn them off.[/quote]
They dont though. I think lots of people think visible muscles show strength, size, persistence, commitment and self control. I honestly never think that it looks aggressive or violent.
I do think some men do look aggressive and violent but it has nothing to do with having defined muscles or being sporty or athletic

It's a bit of a leap from a woman 'liking abs' to objectifying men.
Preference or liking of a physical feature in the sex you're attracted to is one thing, reducing the whole person down to an object because of it or their body is another.
Someone may like abs but not give two hoots if they're not visible if they like the person. Or someone may like abs but treat men who have them as the human being they are.
In my experience the whole gym chiselled thing is more about what men want themselves to be than what women want them to be.