Does Everyone Have to be Muscular to be Considered Attractive?

[Anonymous]

For the past 15 years or so, there has been a desire for a muscular/athletic figure. For women, this means having a very low body fat percentage (women naturally have a higher body fat percentage than men, for biological reasons; even women who are very slim have a higher body fat percentage than men; women who are slim to even very slim can have a high body fat ratio in relation to their muscle mass.) Basically, nature is such that women naturally have 'softer', less angular bodies than men, and if they want to look hard and muscular, they need to keep their body fat percentage very low, and work very hard in the gym....Which is, of course, totally fine if that's what you want, and you like that look :)

However, something which annoys me (and perhaps other people too, I'll wait for the comments!) is the idea that if you are not muscular, if you are slim and healthy, but soft, you are somehow 'unhealthy, 'unattractive', or even sometimes, called 'fat', despite being slim, like Marilyn Monroe in the picture below, and in the link I posted. I can see a flat stomach, yes I know she didn't have abs, but that looks flat and slim to me, and we all know she had a very small waist measurement. She also has a rounded bottom/hips, because that was her body shape - lots of women have this small waist/round hips shape, even when they are slim.

There are a few things I want to consider here:

Firstly, 'fitness' (Ie ability to do physical exercise, endurance, ability to lift weights, run at a certain speed for a certain time) and 'health' are not 100% correlated. What I mean is, the fitter you are doesn't necessarily mean 'healthier'. A certain level of fitness is absolutely essential for good health, but being extremely fit (i.e. a marathon runner) isn't necessarily healthier in the long term - some of the requirements (very low body fat, pressure on the joints) can be damaging, especially for women. Some female athletes, who maintain very low body fat, can have trouble conceiving, or even be left infertile.

Secondly, you can have no or little muscle tone, but still exercise regularly and eat healthily, and be slim....Just because a woman doesn't have muscular arms or visible six pack abs, it doesn't mean that she's a couch potato, or that she eats junk. You can eat super clean and do cardio exercise, but not look muscular.

So, I just wondered what you guys think....

https://www.thisismarilyn.com/yellow-terri-bikini-67727.photo

[EnglishArtsteacher]

Muscle is usually seen as more masculine, so it's viewed attractive on men, but on women? It's just the opposite. Even solid muscle bound guys I know find a curvy (more feminine) figure attractive. I think it looks too manly. I know a few guys who like the muscle look, but most guys I come across don't.

Either way, people have a variety of preferences.

[UnlikeTheOthers]

Totally agree, you stole it from me.

[worldscolide]

Would have replied but you said it for me.. I feel the same

[99percentangel]

Personally I think men look great muscular (but they don't have to be to be attractive in my book) I think girls who are muscular are not so attractive, makes them look manly and not feminine. Feminine is what makes a girl attractive in my opinion.

[imsubmissive]

oh you are fucking beautiful!!

[Berethor]

@99percentangel well as long as they shorter and less muscular then their guy then they still looks feminine enough with him, and that why "All Amazons Want Hercules".

tvtropes.org/.../AllAmazonsWantHercules

[Iloveapplepies34]

Please rate me and do my poll do I look strong or weak you sound nice and honest

[Anonymous]

To be honest, if given a choice between 3 different looking men with the same character, I wouldn't go for too skinny, not for too fat either. The average one would work for me. He doesn't HAVE to be muscular at all, but if he likes to be a bit toned only in the biceps area, I wouldn't be unappreciative; it would be a plus but not necessary. Although it would make me drool :-)
I hate six packs! They are sooooo weird. I don't care about muscles anywhere else.
But he must have a great character. He can look like the hotest model (I personally don't even think models are hot. They are too unnatural and unreal and weird) but if his character sucks, I would be disgusted and would lose all interest. On the other hand, if he has a great character, I would even slide away from average towards either end of the fat/muscle spectrum.
But everyone is different and has different taste. It's all about finding who's right for you. I've personally seen women who are not considered popularly to be beautiful, but there are some men who not only like them, but adore them. Same thing goes for guys. And I have definitely more than a hundred times seen couples where one of them truly looks terrible if judged by popular belief, and the other is drop dead gorgeous/hot.
Also, in general, I've seen that looks matter more at work and to employers, rather than in a private relationship between two people. And that concept confuses most people, and makes physical attraction seem more important than it really is, because it blends in with our desire to have a good job which translates into survival for us. Specially in modern and technologically advanced countries where your job defines you and your entire life.
In the far past, unlike today, almost everyone got married at some point in their life. They hardly had any bachelors or spinsters remaining in society, unless they were some kind of an outcast. I'm not analyzing the quality of those relationships because it doesn't matter in this case. Everyone had eyes in their head an at least knew what they were getting into regarding physical attraction. But the point is, that everyone found a mate in the end. And I'm sure those mates were available in all shapes and sizes as they are today :-) It's just that today, the media is confusing everyone and attaching too much importance to certain physical characteristics than they truly deserve.

[Tealtop1]

I think you're overthinking things. I don't think society is shoving being fit and muscular down people's throats (maybe for men, but they still have other options)

For women the craze right now is being curvy with a tiny waist and a big ass, nowhere do they encourage a six pack or muscles.

With men they get a LOT more pressure to be muscular BUT they also have the advantage of women not being superficial enough for that to really matter (girls like slim rocker guys, nerdy hipster guys, etc and then there was that dad bod craze... you never saw a mom bod craze). Girls overall, care much more about personality for muscles to be a deal breaker or something to push onto a boyfriend.

I myself am a girl and by my own choice am pretty muscular. I even posted a pic on here a while back b/c with my pride in my physique comes a little insecurity and while a lot said they liked my body a good handful said I was too muscular for their preference and thats perfectly fine.

These "issues" aren't real, all people like different things, no one needs to be muscular, or slim, or curvy.

[englisc]

No you don't have to take it to the extreme where you're trying to get shredded, in fact I don't think it's as healthy as many people believe especially for women to have such a low body fat percentage for the reasons you mentioned. But having some muscle and a decent body fat percentage is good.

Fitter people, while they aren't always 100% healthy, are much more likely to be healthy because in order to do what they do they have to eat right and obviously exercise regularly. It becomes more damaging when they take it to the extreme or they start using PEDs.

As for having little to no muscle tone, it's just not as attractive as having a little muscle tone. People who do endless cardio and no kind of resistance training usually have no muscle, and no shape. Yes they might be healthy, it just doesn't look good. Plus endless long distance cardio isn't as good for you as people think, especially for men.

So basically no you don't need to be shredded, low bodyfat, or go to the extreme. Just working out regularly and not being under/overweight is good.

[Anonymous]

Yes even models who are too skinny or too curvy but aren't toned are less highly rated than those (curvy or skinny) who aren't as toned.. There are men who prefer a softer look than hard bodied but by saying soft, they dont mean skinny fat. If you're curvy, you can be toned and if you're skinny, you can have some definition too..
Its a sign of health and vitality, that someone does upkeep. Skinny or curvy can be prone to laziness as much as a guy who depends on steroids over hard work in the gym and being healthy.

Marylin and Gemma Arterton.. that may be "soft" to you but it isn't in my opinion.. they look good because they have curvy features and tone. If they didn't have tone, they would be straight up chubby and soft.. see how her shoulders are slightly sculpted, there's very little cellulite too? That is not soft to me, that is the right amount of curvy.. 'skinnyfat' is what you're looking for and a curvy girl who has a bit of a belly and some cellulite and not defined even slightly in her arms.. That is soft to me.. Hard bodied is the extreme but if you have curve appeal or you're skinny, you're likely popular because you have some tone.. Scarlett Johannson, kate upton and Christina Hendricks are CURVY but if they were really soft, no one would like them, they do have some definition and that is why they are so appealing. Marloes Horst, Anne V, irina shayk, they have some curve but they are not soft. Gisele is not Cara Delvigne who is more on the skinny side whereas Gisele is skinny but toned and not super skinny. (talking about Gisele's golden years not now). Hope that made any sense...

[grkmanga]

My take... most people are brainwashed lol... Here is why.

Many people believe working out, being toned, slender or trying to be fit means the person is motivated, desirable , attractive, healthy... BUT.. reality is as follows:

Healthy - Someone who has NO physical or mental health issues. This does not mean someone that works out, that has muscles or someone that may be fit. I seen many times gym rats that have great bodies go do lines of COKE and drink like booze like water... i'm sure a burger is healthier... thats considered healthy? Um no. years back there were some athletes that LITERALLY died while doing their sports in training or during competition... SAFE to say they may have been fit and muscular, but obviously NOT HEALTHY!

Fit- someone that has agility, mobility and no physical issues. may or may not have a muscular body. again... being fit does not mean healthy!

Muscular / toned - this means either born with the body or work out on it... again, doesn't mean FIT or HEALTHY! just means muscle with low fat percentage.

for someone that is HEALTHY, FIT and Muscular... well that's optimal physical and mental success!!!

So many people need to get their facts straight.. just saying:)

i rather be fat and healthy than be muscular and unhealthy.

[AdamThomas]

I don't think most men prefer muscular women, just fit women who aren't too fat or too skinny. To me women with low bodyfat % look unattractive, it just doesn't look right and that's probably because it isn't healthy for the reasons you mentioned.

As for men, I think the ideal body we're taught to want to aspire to achieve is too big and bulky, usually those kinds of male models are on steroids. They'll always say that that's just an excuse from weak people and that all it takes is hard work, but to get to the size they are, with such a low bodyfat % at least, is physically impossible. So then they sell their bullshit routines and supplements to gullible men.

[Anonymous]

Face still to the overwhelming vast majority will always be the most important part in attractiveness. A guy can be buff but if he has a neanderthal looking face he won't be considered handsome. He'll have a good body but when looking at the overall picture he wouldn't be considered hot. Same with women. They even have a term which is called butterface (some say butherface).

Still it's good for everyone to be healthy but you certainly don't have to be as muscular as those people to be considered attractive not by a long shot. The people who say otherwise probably don't have the most appealing faces...

[myTake Owner]

Ah yes, the butterface. Some women don't like the overly built up muscular look.

[Berethor]

On what plant do you live? women are not expected to be muscular to be considered attractive, men are expected to be muscular to be considered attractive, women are only expected to not be too fat, and not too skinny, but I still appraise athletic women. Being muscular is healthy for both men and women, at long as they don't use steroids. Slim women has more body fat then average or fat men? it's don't make much sense, and it's not true, and I am sure that being too skinny is lowing an woman fertility more then being fit. The main difference between men and women when it's comes to strength, is that men are usually stronger then women, both by default and by potential, that's why even muscular women have less muscle mass then men, unless they use steroids.

[jaxxten]

These are the body types the media wants us to find attractive. Because to get this body type you need to spend money and time, lots of both. and in a way they are succeeding in their effort. They aren't making us want these body types, research has shown that men want women to be curvier than what women think they should be and women want men less muscular than what men think they should be. But they are succeeding in making us more superficial, and to extend, less patient with out partners. We are being told that people are okay and should be accepted the way they are, but when it comes to a life partner, we can find better around every corner. Do while we don't feel the need to change our partner into something better, we do feel the need to simply change partner.

[Spiorad_Aisce]

I know where you are going with this and yes a slim/fit even without major definition can just be as attractive to me as a really defined look in someways more so in fact a lot of guys would consider it a more feminine look. My preference is usually slimmer look but it doesn't have to be majorly athletic

[Miss_Behave]

Personally, I don't like muscular guys to the point where they're considered beefcake. For example, I don't find the guys in the pics you posted attractive at all. That type of muscular is too much in my books. I prefer guys who are slim/on the skinnier side but are nicely toned.

[Anonymous]

Women can just look like this and most guy's would be fine to date her.

s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/.../...97776b4d25.jpg

This does not take much effort. Eat healthy, don't drink like sailors, drink water, lift light weights and run on treadmill for 10-15 minutes a day.

1.bp.blogspot.com/.../naso.jpg

For a male to be considered having a nice body by females he has to. Work out for years in the gym, bulk, cut and watch his macros, do ab crunches, lift heavy weights, do cardio, watch what he eats. And some guys even have to go so far as being on Steroid to overcome shitty genetics that prevents them from putting on lots of muscle.

[GreatnessRevamped]

That's not the only shape in life
i.dailymail.co.uk/.../...500000578-832_964x767.jpg
All are healthy and in shape, but have different shapes that fit their respective sport.

[BubbleBoy69]

@GreatnessRevamped That's not the point BEING MADE. It's what women find attractive not what is the only shape in life.

[krash2002]

I definitely concur with what you're saying. It took my wife 3 months to lose 20 pounds, and slim down to a pretty sexy size. Compared to me trying to get back to the shape I was 5 years ago. It's taken me 8+ months of pure dedication to get back to the form I had. This includes what you said such as a strict diet, low carbs, lots of swimming (cardio), lifting, getting a good nights rest, stretching, creatine, and just over all making sure I ate 8 meals a day in small portions to increase my metabolism.

Guy's honestly have it worse if they want to look like the guy above or Ryan Reynolds (Blade Trinity Version).

[popsickle]

you definitely oversimplified what it takes for a female to have a body like that.

[Vnmccontinuetheconvo]

@popsickle, nope

[Vnmccontinuetheconvo]

Though honestly. Even if a guy follows that same routine, his body will look like fine too. Low body fat but without size, othermode

[PrincessTashaaaa]

As a girl who lifts but can't build muscle easily, my quads look like hers. They're not very big. It's taken a lot more than light weights. It's taken overt wo years of squatting above my body weight and almost popping my uterus out of my lady cavern via ala leg press to grow the smallest quad definition like that.

[krash2002]

@Vnmccontinuetheconvo This is very true. If he follows a females basic dietary regime just for slimming down. The amount of effort is pretty much of the same or less due to females having some additional fat. For that, I will say women have it hard. On the lifting and gaining muscle mass to look more towards the idealistic male. It's much more difficult to achieve.

[AD240pCharlie]

I find very few things as unattractive on a woman as muscles on her upper body. I like a woman with petite shoulders and small arms. If she's gonna be a bit muscular, it should be on her lower body, but in general - like you said - women have more fat than men for a reason. Natural selection didn't just randomly make it that way, it's an advantage when it comes to pregnancy and breastfeeding.
That being said, if you want to work out and become a muscle mountain, no one is gonna stop you. Just because I don't find it attractive, it doesn't mean that I would judge a woman with a lot of muscles or think that it's wrong in any way. I just wouldn't be in a relationship with her. So do what you want and don't care what people find attractive! No matter how you look, some people will like it and some will not, so you may as well look the way you want to look and wait until a person does find it beautiful.

[Lman3000]

No it doesn't it believe me, I'm a 5'6 Mexican/Puerto Rican man, I was 170 4 years ago I have dropped to 151 and have put on some good muscle especially to my arms, Unless you are under the cute or handsome category when it comes to your facial structure and skin you will not be seen as that attractive unless you have a kick ass personality which I do not have otherwise I wouldn't have been single for almost 7 years here in the U. S where looks matter too much but this is from my view point though It's the truth I faced the harsh reality of it and accepted it

[Popo21]

I like a little bit of muscle of men, but it doesn't really matter at all as long as he's HEALTHY. Healthy to me is more of what you eat than what you do (exercise) because trust me, what you eat has such a big impact on your entire life! Healthy to me is also how mentally healthy you are (happy, etc) if you're a gym rat, but always unhappy or depressed or eat tons of junk, but look "fit" - you're not healthy. I wish more people understood this concept. As with women, I think more men prefer a little meat honestly...
Lastly, skinny people can be just as unhealthy as obese people depending once again, on their food intake. This is too broad of a question but I hope I tackled some of the issues and made some things clear!

[bloodmountain1990]

No not at all, because physical attraction is subjective.

What's attractive to one person may not be attractive to another. Now, some people may only like muscular women/men. Are they right or wrong? Nope, that's just their preference.

Personally, I prefer if a woman is not muscular.

[GreatnessRevamped]

What bothers me most is how these muscular guys look strong and can't fight for shit.
How does that happen? lol.

Anyway, good take

[BubbleBoy69]

Muscles decrease mobility due to many of these guys not stretching during post workout.

[GracefulCharm]

A lot of muscular guys get muscles just for looks. They aren't getting it for performance. I train in MMA and I have more endurance and strength than everyone else. All my training of lifting weights has paid off while I was in prison. But I lifted weights as a manner to deter other inmates from starting fights with me. People like me a really rare, most people in gyms I go to out here in the real world are only training to look good for women. These same people are also very likely to take steroids. You can be a good fighter without having muscles, a lot of guys I train and fight at my MMA gym are really good fighters and they aren't muscular. The only other guy at my MMA gym who lifts weights and trains fighting also out performs everyone else just like I do. We are good friends for this reason.

[krash2002]

Ask a body builder to have him/her touch their elbows together. Go ahead... I'll wait.

All kidding aside, Bubble is correct as muscles decrease mobility at some point. Coming from taking martial art classes, and having a friend who became somewhat buff over time. He and I both learned that he was slowing down quite a bit due to his muscle mass. He lightened up the weight lifting and within 6 months. He was pretty much back to normal to some extent. That's why for well fit, but yet agile fighters. It's better to go for strength and agility. Rather than bulk, and power.

[myTake Owner]

@GracefulCharm Yes, it is all for vanity - it's not for health, no matter what they say, because being overly muscular isn't healthy

[GracefulCharm]

@myTake Owner
Ya the fitness industry has lost it's focus, it's more focused on what people look like, a lot of people who are the aspiring image of fitness are men on steroids, and women getting butt and breast implants. The whole thing has become tainted much like the beauty industry for women. They feed off people's insecurities and create images of attractiveness that is difficult to obtain while selling products that lie to you about achieving that attractiveness.

[Xfitchick]

There is a difference between a fit body and a muscular body. A fit body is something you need for a healthy life. A muscular body is a choice and you do it because you like it yourself. If you want to get muscular, you have to accept that you will loose a lot of female curvature. There is no need for that if you want a fit body.

[novastar_11]

you can disagree with me all you want, but too much muscle on anyone gets to a point where it's unattractive. i'd say both genders, especially us girls though, looks best when they're toned but not rippling with muscle. excess fat definitely does not look great though.

(just to clarify, by "excess fat" i mean if your bmi states that you are overweight and in risk of heart disease and other stuff which im not going to pretend i know.)

[Swedgirl]

No but a healthy lifestyle is attractive. Besides there has been a growing trend with big "squatbutts" the past year and that requires some work out, it's trendy to build muscle but it's not a deal breaker if you don't have abs for most guys. Maybe the guys who work out every day and have a six pack want their girl to have the same priorities but normal guys don't have that preference.

[tortelina]

You're right but there is something nice about touching a guy's muscles.