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.

I am sorry to read of the experiences you and your son suffered. However, your comments to @PurpleDaisies about how she should be careful are the very definition of victim blaming and all the more offensive considering your experiences. You really should know better. Women experience harrassment, abuse or rape, regardless of their body shape.
Your comments about aggression and abs being linked seem to be related to your experiences which is understandable. However your views are narrow minded, inaccurate and offensive. You also seem unwilling to reflect on your views. For what it’s worth, my lovely gentle, intelligent DH (with abs) is a generous and supportive partner. However, my ex (without abs) used to regularly beat me to a pulp. Abs does not make a man aggressive and brutish. I find many of your comments shockingly ignorant and offensive.

Oh and maybe stop lashing out at @Simonjt just because he is a male. He is not attacking you because of the sexual abuse you experienced. Like many on here he is merely pointing out the ridiculousness of your views. Men’s views are allowed here too.

OP you ask why should women need men to protect them and I understand your thinking on this. However, you seem hellbent on ignoring all the women on here saying they work out and have visible muscles. Instead of linking abs and biceps to men, maybe reframe your thinking that it is to do with strength and fitness. I am not super fit but I weight train which mean I have abs and biceps (though not huge, bulging through my shirt level). Surely if you want women to protect themselves your post should be about encouraging women to build their muscles/ strength too, rather than attacking men for this

[quote PGWo]@5128gap
Yes.
Women can and do contribute to gender inequality, often by internalizing patriarchial viewpoints.
Why is it that visible six-packs and biceps are considered attractive on men but not on women? I'd posit that it's rooted in the idea that women need big, string men to defend and protect them. This is why many women become attracted to men with toxic personality traits.
I'm assuming you're a fan of Love Island, which is an excellent example.[/quote]
Maybe it is. But if it is, I and other women didnt make those rules. Men have told us this for a long time because it suits their purpose and benefits them over us. If in doing so, theres some collateral damage in that some feel inferior to others, well, that's just too bad, until it? If they don't like it, they have options. Fight patriarchy themselves (but wait, that might not work out too well for them on balance...); find one of the millions of women who don't care about their abs; or get to the gym.
And for the record, just googled this love Island, that you seem so keen on. Never seen it in my life. Though thanks for making me aware of it. I shall definitely give it a go!

This is a non issue, surely OP.
Abs aren't visible through clothes, though someone who's quite physically fit looking you might expect there's a chance they have defined abs.

Lots of stereotypes on here.
One of my children had abs growing up. Mix of gymnastics and ballet. Didn't look a bit masculine, and no steroids involved...

Also the rugby. Lots of professionals might have abs, as in many high level sports, but the amateur players are full of ordinary people with beer guts, that I've seen.

Telling people to be careful in case men are looking at them is very strange.

@5128gap
It's an incredibly vapid and shallow television show, so the fact that you find it interesting sort of proves my point.
Men didn't come together as a whole and make those rules. Rigid gender norms can and do hurt men as well, and the average man doesn't benefit much from them. They don't suffer as much as women do, but that's a different story.
Also, making men suffer more as you propose wouldn't help women in the slightest.

@EssexLioness
Who am I offending? Men with abs? Oh, the horror. How will they recover.

@Suprima
I'm sure you wouldn't want mennnoticibg your body, so why do you think it's fine to objectify men?

@Suprima

*noticing

I think your views are offensive to many people, including women. Maybe go back and read some of what you’ve written. But you seem intent on focusing solely on men with abs… so in that case I would ask how do you know your views are correct? As pointed out by PP you cannot see abs through clothing. Do you really think my husband as a kind and supportive and shy GP is a brute or aggressive just because he has abs? Do you ask all men to lift their shirts before you judge their worth or if they are to be trusted? You talk of objectifying men but the only one here doing that is you because you seem to think one body part makes up someone’s entire personality. It is no different to saying women who dye their hair blonde are all bimbos. To reduce someone to one body part is what objectifying is. And as for your views about being careful when shopping etc are disgusting. Do you really not see how women might be offended as well as men with abs? Oh and I nearly forgot about your constant reference to abs as being masculine despite the fact that so many women here have pointed out that women have abs too.

@EssexLioness
Many women here have also said they like abs because they associate them with masculinity.

@PGWo

Well I care about men feeling inadequate. I don't think anybody should feel bad because they don't look a certain way. If you don't care about other people dealing with insecurities and mental health issues, I don't know what to say. *@LegMeChicken*

But you're happy to pick on men who do work out and want to look a certain way. And happy to criticise women who appreciate men who work hard on their bodies. Be quiet.

I think previous posters are saying they associate male abs with masculinity. However I'm sure they don't mean it's pathognomonic.
I'm sure they aren't arguing that women with female abs look masculine. Low body fat/lean muscle look different on the different sexes.
I said in my last post, there's a huge leap between preference for a physical feature in the sex you find attractive and objectification of a person/people with that trait.

[quote PGWo]@PurpleDaisies
Let me put it this way:
How do you know your husband isn't noticing other women when he goes out? If he likes your bum and breasts, maybe he notices other attractive women.[/quote]
I’m sure he probably does notice that other women are attractive. I’m certainly not the only one and I’m not even the prettiest one out there. I notice attractive men. Everyone does. I do not understand the point you’re making. It’s pretty much impossible not to see what other people look like and have some sort of reaction to that.

@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.

@PGWo that BMJ article you linked to does not say anything about “most doctors” disapproving of rugby in the only portion I can read. I am sure some doctors think rugby is dangerous and there’s an argument for full contact rugby to start at an older age. That’s not saying rugby should be banned. Many of doctor friends are huge rugby fans and a few take their children to play junior level rugby.

Op what the fuck has it got to do with you if a man wants abs or not
My ds has abs as he plays sport and is a sporty kid
Its no different to a women getting fake boobs
Its no one elses business
As for rugby being bullying , its very much the opposite and all about core values and respect
Yes its a physically hard game , but shock horror women play rugby too

@PGWo funny that not had a single dr tell me my ds shouldn't play rugby
They have had a concussion once but also had one from football
The difference being is rugby was recognised and dealt with and guidelines followed, the football one was not
Other injurie wise one son broke a finger but then my other son broke his finger playing with a sponge ball at school
Its not full of bullies either , its very much about core values and respect

@PGWo also what on earth does your people mean
You cannot tarnish every rugby player
Both my ds play rugby and they have never bullied a sole
Rugby is a very inclusive kids sport and for all shapes , sizes and ability
It also has lots of core values and respect
Thousands play you cannot say everyone is a bully thats just pathetic

"ts not full of bullies either , its very much about core values and respect"

This has been my experience of rugby players too.

OP quite frankly your post is sexist and prejudice to put it politely
You seem very angry about what others choose to do with their bodies

@worriedatthistime
*soul
@PurpleDaisies
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1513993
This is about American football, which isn't even nearly as dangerous as rugby.

@PGWo what does seoul mean?
And american football get more injuries

@PGWo also what does it have to do with you if people choose to play rugby , horse riding is dangerous as is riding a motorbike
But your not being forced to do any of those things
Maybe worry less about what others choose to do and live your life

Op i really think you need to learn to be less judgemental your trying to tell other people what they should or shouldn't do
It has nothing to do with you how others live or what they choose to do
You really need to concentrate on your own life and be less invested in other people

[quote worriedatthistime]@PGWo what does seoul mean?
And american football get more injuries [/quote]
She was being a dick and pointing out that you had spelt it incorrectly. Only someone with little class and nothing valuable to say would pick on someone’s spelling the way OP just did.

@EssexLioness yes common theme on here
Being dyslexic I'm used to it
Goes to show she never had a valid argument