In women's studies, we have discussed the link between masculinity and physical space. This is a direct correlation that shows that people who are considered to be more masculine tend to take up more space with their body. Conversely, people considered to be more feminine take up less space (part of the reason why thinness is emphasized so much for females).
At this point you may be asking, "This is interesting, but why should I care?" The answer to this comes in two parts, which I have thought about a lot in the last week. It affects actions on a personal, as well as an interpersonal, level.
The personal level is much more obvious. When individuals do not meet the expectations of femininity or masculinity, they can be driven to severe self-esteem issues. This variation from the "norm" can lead individuals to believe that they are too fat or too thin. Men often feel the need to bulk up in order to perceive themselves as attractive (not to say that men cannot struggle with high weight issues). For some people, this is excessively difficult for many reasons, including high metabolism and low appetite. When individuals can't meet the expectations of being big enough or small enough, they can feel like they're failing, which, in many cases, is untrue. Oftentimes for women to be seen as feminine, they are expected to lose weight. At some points in fashion, unhealthily thin (thinner than even many current models) models have been glamorized as having the ideal figures. If weight loss is difficult, females are looked at as a failure, which can severely damage an individual's self esteem in the long run. As I said before, this part is pretty obvious. Although fat shaming is a fairly regular occurrence, I think that many people at least realize that these media representations shape how each of us view ourselves.
The less obvious effect of this correlation is seen in relationships. When the person that is more masculine in the relationship takes up less space than the other, this can be confusing. Media does not show many relationships with this dynamic. To be clear, I do not only mean this in the context of female and male relationships, either. The larger person, regardless of gender, is taught by enforced gender roles that he or she should be the one to take charge of the relationship. If this isn't the dynamic of the relationship, individuals are left to figure out how to navigate the new experience with little to no help from outside sources. Is this detrimental? Possibly. If a person doesn't have this in mind and they blame the discrepancy on themselves, they can be truly harmed by the effects. They can reinforce again the belief that their weight and/or size is determinative of their personal value, which is completely untrue.
This link has harsh effects, which can be both obvious and less obvious. It is important that we keep this in mind as we navigate our own lives. Do not let your size determine your self-worth or your actions.
