Compose 2. On Body Image

Bordo made some very good points about the body image that the media perpetuates for girls and women, but I believe that the same claim can be made for men and boys.
As the mother of four sons, I have seen them grow into different body shapes and styles. I have also observed that the media culture has my more heavy-set sons as not so appealing. Two of my boys have incredibly built, athletic bodies---the media (t.v., magazines, models) says to the world that they are better-looking than their brothers. Of course, as their mother, I'm biased. They are all handsome men.
The media culture states that my six-foot, five-inch, 220 lbs son should either be playing football as a lineman or play basketball- he hates sports. My heavy-set 21 year old should not be snowboarding because he does not fit the image of what "that" body should be.
Yes, Denzel Washington is a great-looking, fit man, as are many others that we see on t.v., movies, and billboards. There is nothing wrong with a heavier-set man, some are quite good-looking and, without the 'glamour', you are able to see their personality shine through that much easier.
All in all, men and boys have almost as hard of a time maintaining a proper body-image as do women and girls. It seems that the media finds females to be just a bit more susceptible to their machinations.