Master of Arts in Higher Education (MAHE) Theses

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

First Advisor

Tim Herrmann

Second Advisor

Todd Ream

Third Advisor

Scott Gaier

Abstract

Many factors correlate with positive and negative body image issues in American culture today. Both men and women have a potential to struggle with negative and positive views of their bodies. However, body dissatisfaction has become commonly mistaken as an issue only impacting women. The present study sought to understand male body image and how it connects to a man’s view of his masculinity. The phenomenological study took place at a small, faith-based, residential campus in the Midwest and examined the experiences of eight male students at this institution. All participants mentioned family members as integral factors in helping them construct personal views of body image and mentioned their body types as indicators of perceived masculinity.

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