-Caveat Lector-
Boys May Be Impacted by Body Types
By PAISLEY DODDS
.c The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) -- Long legs, a tiny waist and a big bust made Barbie the target
of critics for giving girls an unrealistic body ideal.
Now, chiseled pectorals, abdominals and biceps have put male action figures
under similar scrutiny.
Researchers who studied boys' favored action figures found they preferred
``very muscular figures,'' said Harrison Pope, a Harvard University
psychiatrist and author of the study.
The majority of male action figures placed on the market since the 1960s have
been beefed up to bulky, inhuman proportions, leading boys to believe muscle
equals masculinity, the study said.
Before then, ``people weren't using anabolic steroids so men would lift
weights and stay within their natural body size,'' Pope said. ``But now, the
unnatural is possible.''
Researchers measured the circumference of GI Joe's waist, chest and biceps at
different stages of development over the years.
The original GI Joe from the 1960s, scaled to human dimensions, had a biceps
circumference of about 12 inches, similar to an ordinary man. But a GI Joe
Extreme from 1997 had a biceps circumference of more than 26 inches -- almost
the size of a small man's waist.
Wayne Charness, a spokesman for Hasbro Inc., which makes GI Joe, Star Wars
and a host of other figures, said action heroes aren't designed to resemble
the meek and the mortal.
``As for our superhuman figures like Batman and Superman, they are based on
cartoon characters and their proportions are likely to remain superhuman,''
he said.
But the buffed play toys could be leaving impressions on young boys, said
Martin Zelin, a Tufts University psychology professor.
``Just as women who are anorexic have been influenced by the images of thin
models, boys could be influenced by muscular men,'' he said.
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
