The Different Kinds of Straight People

[Thorns]

Id tend to agree that being visibly muscular plays into primordial desire.

Since being a hunter gatherer is no longer necessary, theres a new kind of “muscle” and power that has replaced physical muscles, and that is money. These days being a successfully filthy rich man is the new Alpha. Thats why you see old out of shape men with young supermodels, because theyre rich and powerful.

Now, if you’re young, physically fit, and rich… Wel, thats enough to shame even the Dos Equis man. Win win, I guess.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Since being a hunter gatherer is no longer necessary, theres a new kind of “muscle” and power that has replaced physical muscles, and that is money. These days being a successfully filthy rich man is the new Alpha. Thats why you see old out of shape men with young supermodels, because theyre rich and powerful.

I’m not so sure. I saw an Axe commercial that played to this tune barring the old man look. I feel like that stereotype is still often demonized (particularly by the left). Not to mention, it’s still only one ideal. There’s just something unequal about that. That there can only be one?

Sure it’s a virtue if you don’t get hung up and cease aspiring to be that One but wouldn’t it also be good if you could aspire to be something else and still live up to the same level? It’s like Hiddleston’s Loki would say, “I never wanted the throne! I only wanted to be your equal!” Fortunately, it does look like there’s some progress. I just wish the idea of pitching muscle as a fair maiden magnet would still take a further back seat for other ideal stereotypes.

 

[mommamaree]

I’m not so sure. I saw an Axe commercial that played to this tune barring the old man look. I feel like that stereotype is still often demonized (particularly by the left). Not to mention, it’s still only one ideal. There’s just something unequal about that. That there can only be one?

Sure it’s a virtue if you don’t get hung up and cease aspiring to be that One but wouldn’t it also be good if you could aspire to be something else and still live up to the same level? It’s like Hiddleston’s Loki would say, “I never wanted the throne! I only wanted to be your equal!” Fortunately, it does look like there’s some progress. I just wish the idea of pitching muscle as a fair maiden magnet would still take a further back seat for other ideal stereotypes.

Ah, Loki…That is one of my favorite lines that you just quoted.

It may be that other stereotypes are not given as much play as the bodybuilder type, but the fact remains that there are a great many archetypes of masculinity that are appealing in the hetero sense. Take heart. You are not alone in being fatigued by seeing just one form of masculinity/femininity not just idealized, but idolized. But this is a perennial problem for men and women. Just cultivate the best of who you are, and ignore the stupidity of the majority of the media and filmmakers.

 

[thewanderer]

There are PLENTY of ladies who appreciate intelligence and cunning and wit, and prefer them over muscles and speed.

Religion has nothing to do with popular stereotypes, at least, not authentic religion. Media spotlight is not the same as truth.

Yeah, to be honest, I think it really isn’t quite correct to say there is only one stereotype for either sex. For women there are at least two major beauty stereotypes, supermodel and curvy. For men there is at least the super muscular and the salt-and-pepper well-groomed and dignified stereotype, think Alec Baldwin. And there is definitely the new stereotype rising for men with the sharp cheekbones and pronounced chin and whatnot, like the vampire in the twilight movies.

Having said all that, I can definitely understand why it would be frustrating to feel as though you are being held up to one standard of attractiveness and being found wanting. Thankfully the reality is that these larger stereotypes are overblown. There are plenty of people who marry people who are not super muscle men and are very happy to do so. There are in fact many aspects to beauty and many different forms of it, both physically and in personality and character.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Having said all that, I can definitely understand why it would be frustrating to feel as though you are being held up to one standard of attractiveness and being found wanting. Thankfully the reality is that these larger stereotypes are overblown. There are plenty of people who marry people who are not super muscle men and are very happy to do so. There are in fact many aspects to beauty and many different forms of it, both physically and in personality and character.

It may be that other stereotypes are not given as much play as the bodybuilder type, but the fact remains that there are a great many archetypes of masculinity that are appealing in the hetero sense.

That’s exactly why I opened this thread. There are just so many standards for beauty and they’re really just on par with each other. Why is it that both secular and religious cultures are yet to really grasp this idea?

If you ask me, influence like this certainly doesn’t help. Sometimes I suspect there are still elements in society (in and out of religious circles) that resist this concept and treat anything that attempts to equalize other standards of beauty to a pre-existing/primordial ideal as subliminally subversive to norms (if not moral norms).

Here’s another example where I think this mentality can be harmful both from the standpoint of religious and secular values: the idea of virginity.

Let me sum it up for you. Just because I’ve never had sex in my entire life or can’t bench press my own body weight doesn’t mean I’m devoid of testosterone or lack a pornographic imagination.

To religious girls, I’m afraid we’ll both offend each other with this assumption. No scratch that, you might be both disappointed and terrified that this ‘virgin’, on a slow day, has a mind that’s no purer than Cthulhu himself.

To those who think virginity =/= clueless loser, I will hurt you. One way or another. I will hurt you.

 

[mommamaree]

I think you are being WAY too hard on yourself, actually.

So you have a slimmer build, good. My step-FIL also does, and his siblings and his father. An entire family of lean folks.

So you are a virgin, wonderful. And you acknowledge the importance of chastity of mind and not merely of physical fact, very good.

These are not handicaps. These are just aspects of who you are, who you were made by God to be, and who you choose to be and become.

Religion has no opinion. People have opinions, and both people and their opinions can be faulty. Pay attention to the models of masculinity that the Church provides us with, in the stories of the saints, the people of the New Testament, and the wonderful writings of the saints and popes. Then, ignore or enjoy the movies, TV shows, and books, if you so desire, but never expect them to give you an accurate picture of reality. It is only entertainment, which is always meant to sell you something. Always be aware of what people are trying to sell you, whether it is a product, an idea, or something else. Even religious people will often have an agenda that must be discerned behind whatever it is that they are saying.

I suggest you read Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. It is a spiritual classic that can benefit anyone, but especially Catholic men. In it the author speaks of striving manfully toward salvation. As a woman, I appreciate the very masculine Christian perspective that has been lacking in Western culture in the last half century. Make sure you obtain a complete version of his book. Abridged and Protestantized versions do exist. If you get it from a Catholic bookseller, or read it online at a Catholic resource, you will be able to read it in its entirety.

God bless you!