"It's About What I Can Do With My Body": Body Image and Embodied Experiences of Aging Among Older Canadian Men

Liechty, Toni; Ribeiro, Nuno F.; Sveinson, Katherine; Dahlstrom, Laura

doi:10.3149/jmh.1301.3

Cited by 22 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…This connection suggests that engaging in regular exercise was also significant to the men's bodily appearance and not simply to their body's functionality. This line of argument tallies with research indicating that male bodies are increasingly being represented as objects to be viewed, with men increasingly seen as responsible for the appearance and maintenance of their bodies (Liechty, Ribeiro, Sveinson, & Dahlstrom, 2014 ). Pressure to achieve a bodily ideal has also been related to a discourse linking weakness and lack of control to being overweight, which by this token may constitute a threat to masculinity (Grogan & Richards, 2002 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Becoming anormalguy: Men making sense of long-term bodily changes following bariatric surgery

Groven

Galdas

Solbrække

2015

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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BackgroundTo date, research on bodily changes following bariatric surgery has focused predominantly on women, leaving the long-term experience of men relatively unexplored. In this paper, we draw on interviews with men who have undergone an irreversible gastric bypass procedure to explore their bodily changes more than 4 years post-surgery. We apply a phenomenological framework that draws on Leder's perspectives on the “disappearing” and “dys-appearing” body, combined with a gender-sensitive lens that draws on Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity and Robertson's conceptions of embodied masculinity.FindingsOur principal finding was that the men negotiated their bodily changes following bariatric surgery in profoundly ambivalent ways. Although they enthusiastically praised the surgery for improving their health, self-esteem, and social functioning, they also emphasized their efforts to cope with post-surgical side effects and life-threatening complications. Our analysis elaborates on their efforts to adjust to and come to terms with these changes, focusing on episodes of hypoglycemia, severe pain and internal herniation, and the significance of physical activity and exercise.ConclusionsOur findings point to the need to acknowledge men's ways of making sense of profound and ongoing bodily changes following bariatric surgery and how these negotiations are closely intertwined with masculine ideals of embodiment and social value.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Becoming anormalguy: Men making sense of long-term bodily changes following bariatric surgery

Groven

Galdas

Solbrække

2015

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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“…As a construct, men's body image has been discussed in terms of how the body performs, as well as how it appears (Drummond, 2019;Leichty et al, 2014). The former has been a salient theme especially in research with preadolescent boys and older men, highlighting performance as important in the display and maintenance of masculine identities (Tatangelo and Ricciardelli, 2013).…”

Section: Men's Reflections On Their Body Image At Different Life Stagmentioning

confidence: 99%

Men’s reflections on their body image at different life stages: A thematic analysis of interview accounts from middle-aged men

et al. 2019

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This study investigates how men’s body image develops over time. A total of 14 men aged between 45 and 67 years completed in-depth interviews where they discussed their body image since childhood, prompted in some cases by photographs of themselves at different ages that they brought to the interviews. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. From the participants’ accounts, it was evident that body concerns did not steadily improve or worsen, but waxed and waned over time. Results are discussed in relation to understanding changing body concerns in men’s lives, and the implications of these for future research and practice.

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“…In the era of globalization, cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular in society. While older men pay more attention to their bodily functions and the experience of old age than their own appearance (Liechty et al, 2014), older women still consider maintaining their appearance to be a priority (Liechty, 2012). Thus, men and women (at different ages) undergo various treatments, among which liposuction is one of the most popular (Benatti et al, 2012;Khanna, & Filobbos, 2013); it remains the most common surgical procedure for obesity.…”

Section: Specialized Tourism Medicine: Liposuction Versus Physical Acmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participation in Medical Tourism versus Physical Activity of Patients after Liposuction: What are the Concerns about Health and Quality of Life?

Lubowiecki-Vikuk

2016

Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research

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"It's About What I Can Do With My Body": Body Image and Embodied Experiences of Aging Among Older Canadian Men

Cited by 22 publications

References 43 publications

Becoming anormalguy: Men making sense of long-term bodily changes following bariatric surgery

Becoming anormalguy: Men making sense of long-term bodily changes following bariatric surgery

Men’s reflections on their body image at different life stages: A thematic analysis of interview accounts from middle-aged men

Participation in Medical Tourism versus Physical Activity of Patients after Liposuction: What are the Concerns about Health and Quality of Life?

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