Ripped Tyson Beckford and David Beckham types beware. The new standard of “hot” male physique that apparently is making all the gals go crazy is the “dad bod,” the doughy, undefined build of a man who is comfortably married, probably has kids and is definitely not trying to get himself, as Protein World might say, “beach body” ready.
McKenzie Peterson from Clemson University penned a piece for The Odyssey in which she explains the appeal of this distinguished male figure. “The dad bod is a nice balance between a beer gut and working out. The dad bod says, “I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time. It’s not an overweight guy, but it isn’t one with washboard abs, either.” She says the dad bod is the look many frat guys are embracing, and so are the ladies. Peterson argues the softer form of a man without a 6-pack is less intimidating to women, especially those who are already insecure about their own bodies.
The topic of the dad bod has become a hot one on social media, garnering mixed reactions from men and women alike. While there are those who are staunchly pro dad bod, others wonder if a 21-year-old with a softer physique will be able to maintain the desired doughiness for female suitors as he ages.
mom bod = ability to bring new life into the world, dad bod = lack of muscle definition ?? #bye
— Ayesha A. Siddiqi (@pushinghoops) April 30, 2015
If you’re like 24 and you don’t have children and you refuse to work out, that’s not a dad bod. That’s just laziness.
— Justin Fenner (@justinfenner) April 30, 2015
You don’t just *get* a dad bod. You gotta work for it. You gotta spend those late nights. Clean up some barf. Build a crib.
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) April 30, 2015
Unfortunately the Dadbod will not change the metric with which you are judged at brunch the next morning– it’s still your D game, fam.
— FLEEKNIK (@Judnikki) April 30, 2015
The term “dadbod” is super offensive. The preferred nomenclature is “father figure.”
— Jian DeLeon (@jiandeleon) April 30, 2015
If men use this dadbod trend as an excuse to drink six packs and eat pizza while demanding their wives be yogapants hot SO HELP ME
— Rachel Syme (@rachsyme) April 30, 2015
My lifestyle is now a trend #DadBod pic.twitter.com/aV9E4LxOlW
— KyleKeller (@kyle_keller34) April 29, 2015
everyone is tweeting about dad bod *now* but NO ONE was excited about it when i had hundreds of babies inexplicably growing out of my skin
— d|pb&j otter 1.1 (@Boringstein) April 30, 2015
That moment when you realize #dadbod is the wave. pic.twitter.com/Iip7PCGvt0
— Complex Style (@ComplexStyle) April 30, 2015
Some people wonder if “dadbod” isn’t just another form of privilege. While men’s out-of-shape bodies are celebrated, women are constantly pressured to have immaculate physiques.
#dadbod is the epitome of straight white male privilege… screw having to adjust to the norm, we’ll just shift it. Privilege is magic.
— Bryan (@brrrryyyan) April 30, 2015
But whether you’re rejoicing over body acceptance for different male shapes or contemplating its greater societal significance, we bet that there are plenty of fellas just happy that some women find their everyman body incredibly hot.
[via The Odyssey, h/t The Cut]
