Współczesny ideał męskiego ciała – wybrane aspekty problematyki
A contemporary ideal of male body – the chosen aspects of issues

Summary/Abstract: The objective of the article is to analyze the sources and determinants of the contemporary ideal of man’s body (mesomorphic silhouette) and influence it may have on a man’s actions and self-esteem. The analysis was mainly carried out in reference to theoretical conceptions of such authors as: Jean Baudrillard (the conception of consumer society), Michel Foucault (the conception of knowledge/ power), Raewyn Connell (the theory of hegemonic masculinity and the conception gendered body), Erving Goffman (the conception of hyperritualisation in media coverages). I provide theoretical analysis of body, but the article also includes a discussion on results of various empirical investigations, which demonstrate that the canon of man’s beauty spread in modern culture may contribute to growth in the number of men modifying their bodies according to the dominating model. I formulate the thesis, that the image of mesomorphic physique is the result of the consumer society but also contributes to consolidation of the existing gender hierarchy.

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