Life is full of contradictions and shades of gray (and way more than just 50). Sexism in our society is one example of this conflict. Sexism causes women to be objectified simply walking down the street, but forgiveness and even jokes when they are the abuser in a relationship. It allows for men to be seen as assertive (as opposed to catty), but shame if they exhibit any "weak" characteristics, like crying.
Women today face monumental pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. They are constantly Photoshopped to have hourglass figures, perfect skin and no fat: things that are simply unattainable. Women around the world protest this problem, so why are women currently contradicting themselves and protesting against what they have been fighting for (themselves)? The same concept still applies and should be enforced unilaterally, for all genders by all genders.
Why should men be pressured to conform and work towards their own unattainable societal set goals? Women complain about unrealistic beauty standards, but bashing Dad Bods supports those unrealistic beauty standards and perpetuates a harmful double standard. While women hold up protest signs for better treatment towards themselves in one hand, many have also been holding a sign proclaiming Dad Bods are unsightly in the other. We need to realize that by dissuading society from supporting this newfound love for men who are less fit, no one will show love for women who are not fit themselves.
Reappropriation is defined as "the cultural process by which a group reclaims, or re-appropriates, terms or artifacts that were previously used in a way disparaging of that group," and one who supports Dad Bods is doing just that: helping to change something that was previously seen as unattractive by society as attractive. If that is encouraged at this scale, one can only hope that it will be encouraged to grow to a major and impactful scale for all.
It is understandable that many are against Dad Bods because it is more than a little unfair that men are the ones getting even lower beauty standards. I think we should all get behind any lowering of beauty standards we can get our manicured or non-manicured hands on. So if you're all for gender reappropriation, for either sex, pick up your own picket sign and holler, "WE WANT DAD BODS!"
