What does it mean to be masculine? A preliminary study

The meaning of masculinity is constantly changing and is influenced by a variety of factors. While consumption has become the core of capitalist societies, bodies have become a commodity to be well cared-for and well-groomed through diet, exercise and plastic surgery. As the standard for a desirable male has become increasingly more muscular, muscularity has become increasingly associated with masculinity. The purpose of this preliminary study is to explore this relationship between masculinity and muscularity akin to bodily activities and characteristics. Data was collected from two focus groups, with a total of nine participants. This preliminary study highlighted that masculinity is defined as being strong and fit. Even though the participants did not desire a hyper-muscular body, they described an ideal male body image as an athletic figure with a low fat-lean ratio and frequently cited hyper-muscular stereotypes as representatives of ideal body images.