If guys can let themselves go a bit, why not women?
By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times
Have you heard about “Dad bod”? Thanks to Clemson student Mackenzie Pearson’s blog post (read here: http://bit.ly/1DCrYSl) the concept is trending. Here’s her theory in a nutshell: Women are attracted to men that have a “nice balance between a beer gut and working out.
The dad bod says, “I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time.”
It’s not an overweight guy, but it isn’t one with washboard abs, either.
Mackenzie argues that dating a less than perfect man is the key to a successful relationship. No girl wants to date a dude prettier than she is. I get it.
HOWEVER, there is something supremely irritating about the fact that the reciprocal “Mom Bod” would NEVER garner the same respect. Oh, as women, we tell each other ALL THE TIME how our stretch marks are the “battle scars” of having children. Of course we should celebrate and cherish the loose skin and sagging breasts that exemplify our motherhood…what’s not to love?
It’s bad enough that men, as they age, can get grey and wrinkled and it is described as “distinguished” but now they can get fat and it is OK?
Ladies, I’m calling for an uprising. Can you image the time, money and energy that could be saved if we let ourselves go? No more SPANX, hours in a beauty salon, Botox injections, endless miles on the treadmill, waxing, plucking, buffing and selftanning…
it’s mindblowing. I’m pretty sure I could cure cancer and secure world peace in a little under a week. Nevermind that the beauty, movie, television and print media industries would fold like a house of cards. Millions of dollars are generated every day convincing maturing women that they aren’t attractive enough. The financial fallout of embracing “natural beauty” would be catastrophic.
I’m fairly confident that if I polled 100 college aged males and showed them pictures of “Mom Bods,” they would be horrified. After all, it’s nothing like the images they have been promised via social media. Unfortunately, real life doesn’t come with an Instagram filter, fellas.
I’m not holding my breath that things will change anytime soon…so, until this idea takes root, I’ll be out running three miles after applying mascara and lipgloss….
Happy Weekend .
Thanks, Turk 182! I think your assessment is amazing. Love it
This argument kind of taps into a lot of issues…from fashion to fat shaming. First of all, I don’t think men as a group are totally unrealistic about women in their same age group. Speaking for myself, I think a lot of women are too thin — most guys like some curves and as women (and men) age, it gets tougher to keep the weight off. So it may be that a lot of guys find that extra few pounds attractive — I know some incredibly sexy size 12s and 14s. So, maybe for guys — “Mom Bods” are just fine.
I do think, at times, women dress and diet for each other, rather than for men — which is an entirely different argument. Guys compete with cars, golf clubs and other signs of wealth and achievement, but there isn’t as much of an issue from adding a bit of weight from “pounding the Budweiser.” Unless it impacts your golf swing.
And yes, the more shallow ones do compete with “trophy wives” — but those are the kind of guys who lack inner self confidence and can’t quite cut it with an equal in a relationship. Younger women — and this is a broad generalization (no pun intended) — often don’t know what they want. Few things in life are as a attractive as a woman who knows who she is and what she wants from life.
Lastly, I don’t get the fashion thing — a lot of the “hot” looks seem more driven by what other women or fashion designers think is cool, not what the average guy thinks is attractive. My two cents, of course,
I’ve got a GREAT idea Kelly!
I recall you writing that you have an 8th grader. Right? Mike has 2 eighth graders and I’ve got one too. How about we all get behind Jeff Hellrung’s initiative to move high school start times in Chester County 1 hour forward.
From: Bhttps://www.unionvilletimes.com/?p=25311
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Board member Jeff Hellrung reviewed an initiative that would potentially delay the start of the school day for high school students that a psychology class at Unionville High School began. The results of the student-led research found that students are going to bed late and are being deprived of sleep and it would be a real benefit to student wellness to delay the opening of the school day at the high school level.
Two seniors and two sophomores from UHS presented their findings at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) board meeting. After the persuasive case was presented on why the school day should be delayed for high schoolers, approval was given to go ahead for student representatives in all of Chester County to pursue how it can be done keeping in mind after school activities, busing, and child care issues.
The chosen students for this county-wide project will be trained at the IU in team skills such as working on a team, roles on a team, research, surveys and presentations.
“I think we have a really good chance of totally reshaping the look of the school day in our whole county and if we do it, it’s going to be led by our own local students – high school students,” Hellrung said.
Board member Kathleen Do said, “This is a very big deal what they are doing. It is coming from studies throughout the country and then it ended up right here at Unionville High School where we did a study.”
If this comes to pass it’s going to change a lot of lives not only for the students but for the parents and I think it is a really positive change,” Do added.
Mike and Kelly, Don’t know if you’ve been through the HIgh School years. I have. I don’t care if your kid is a star athlete or an academic genius or both. It is not easy. And this initiative by Jeff would go a LONG way in making the experience more enjoyable and safe……………..for everyone.”
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And Kelly, you can easily incorporate this into your column. Everyone needs their beauty sleep, especially mom!
Thanks for the teres too Kelly. Mike, I’m changing my screen to Teres. More friendly. Don’t you think?
Thanks for sharing, Teres.
Your welcome Kelly. Wish more would join in. Here and other sites too. It’s very important that citizens get involved. Even if they don’t have kids in the district, all residents pay taxes and it’s important to understand where where tax dollars from never ending tax increases go. We’re all connected. Decisions in TE effect UCF and vice versa.
In reality, citizens have the power. Somehow that got lost, and we now are too afraid, too apathetic and too uninformed to speak up for what is right. . We’ve been hood winked.
Do for yourself girls, and everything else will take care of it self..
Love the new do Kel!
I don’t run 5 miles 3 to 5 times a week for my husband. I don’t spend time in the salon for my husband, I don’t get botox injections, I don’t take pills, I eat right, I don’t drink much and I work hard and put my family first.
I do these things for me, and don’t care much what anyone else thinks about what I do or how I do it. My husband loves it, my kids want to stay out later, not do their homework, and stay glued to their phones 24/7. It’s a never ending struggle but I fight the good fight because I think it’s the right thing to do, and not because I’m concerned about what others think.
If men want to get fat, then yes, it’s O.K. I don’t consider them distinguished or not distinguished. If it doesn’t bother them, why should it bother us. When my husband starts gaining weight, I tell him (like right now) and he starts walking and eating better. Not because of me, but because he knows he will have a better quality of life if he does.
Hahaha! Thanks, Gwen 🙂
Amen, sister