what the creators really intended and what you perceive it as?
2007-12-10 18:16:38 · 7 answers · asked by wholelotawaa 2 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
A real American hero.
2007-12-10 18:19:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The changes in 'GI Joe' over several decades suggest that men too are faced with societal pressure to achieve a 'beauty ideal'. Men are developing eating disorders at an unprecedented rate; 'pathological' body-building regimens and the use of steroids are taking a toll as well.
"...men have started to feel self-conscious about their body shape. They are constantly seeing images in magazines, on billboards and on television of the 'perfect' male body."
'Do you think the so-called ‘ideal’ male body shape has changed?'
'It seems so. A recent study has compared the action figures of the ‘70s and ‘80s with those of today and there has been an enormous increase in the musculature.
In 1974, a GI Joe doll (the American equivalent of Action Man) had a 44 inch chest, 31 inch waist and 12 inch biceps. The GI Joe of today has a 50 inch chest, 28 inch waist and 22 inch biceps. It seems that an increase in musculature, especially on the upper body, is the new ‘desirable’ shape.
Recent male role models have been extremely muscular. Film stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Vin Diesel and all the WWE wrestling stars portray the image that large muscles and power are essential masculine traits.
This increasing trend for such muscular bodies is a concern. Some researchers do not believe that it is possible to have a figure of the proportions demonstrated by the dolls without resorting to the use of steroid supplements. Certainly there has been an increase in the number of men resorting to supplements to try and increase their size and muscular definition. Anabolic steroids are very dangerous and can cause psychotic reactions such as hallucinations, manic symptoms and depression."
2007-12-10 18:29:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Not only has GI Joe become freakishly muscular, but also Ken dolls. When that doll was first introduced, it had the proportions of an average build for a man. Now, this doll has a huge chest, extra wide shoulders and a thick neck. I don't know who came up with the idea that this is the ideal male physique but I personally don't find muscular men attractive, especially when it is obvious that those muscles were created by performance enhancing drugs.
2007-12-10 19:06:27 · answer #3 · answered by RoVale 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
G.I. Joe is a socially acceptable, heterosexually-coded excuse for boys to play with dolls.
2007-12-10 20:03:52 · answer #4 · answered by Bellavita 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GI Joe represents the Great American Dream:
To create a highly marketable item with low production costs which will make you stinkin' rich.
That's where you were goin' with that question, right?
2007-12-10 18:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by Bye for now... 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
sort of an ideal for boys, to be muscular and defending their country. i may even go so far as to say that their cartoons from the 80's are almost propaganda
2007-12-10 18:30:41 · answer #6 · answered by bluestareyed 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Manliness.
Thinking about it, it's could be trying to enforce sexist views that men can only be heroes.
Or they just thought he was cool.
2007-12-10 18:24:47 · answer #7 · answered by asdfasdf 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋