Male Body Image: Gays Influencing Societal Standards?

     During the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" episode of the hit TV show "Glee" last week, two of the male characters have a locker room chat about male body image. The completely cut and near negative body fat Sam confides in Finn that he works out constantly and only eats protein because he worries about getting fat.
     I get it. I just started a calorie counting program today. My midsection has been ballooning as of late, and my turn as the phantom of the opera for Halloween almost didn't happen because I couldn't get my tuxedo trousers buttoned and zipped.
     The gay community gets it. Most male gay culture focuses on the chiseled, hairless (and fat free) youthful body type, in everything from magazine covers, calendars and even pornography.
     Because of this strong emphasis on being in shape and muscled and Adonis-like it caused me to wonder if gay culture has perpetuated this ideal upon American society in general. A perusal of TV and movie stars from the 1970s until now makes an impressive case. One example is a famous 1970s Playgirl pic featuring Burt Reynolds. He was considered the epitome of manhood, and the picture has him nude (with a strategically placed hand) on a bear skin rug. He is hairy from head to toe, sporting a moustache and a nice but far from chiseled build. Fast forward to this past year, when star Mario Lopez posed for People magazine and staged the same photo. Mario has almost no body hair and maybe, maybe 4% body fat.
     Hairy and a decent build is out, but I don't think it is because women suddenly became "turned off" from body hair and a basic manly build. I don't think it is any accident that as gay culture became more mainstream in the late 70s to where it is today, gay ideals carried over in to pop culture. After coming out last year, I learned that the "bear" community of gay men largely gained popularity because average, hairy  gay guys were tired of the young, hairless "twink" stereotype.
     So, as I sit here eating my Weight Watchers popsicle, I give my hairy chest a scratch and rub my belly. I am not willing to do what it would take to be a Mario Lopez. So, I will settle for looking more like a Burt Reynolds. It may be outdated, but I don't mind. I simply want to fit in my pants again.