What is a “Dad Bod”?

Hi everyone,

Being a frequent user of the internet that I am, I have noticed a new craze that’s arisen, known as the “dad bod”. If you’re not familiar with the term, it essentially a description for the combination between a beer gut and hitting the gym a couple of times a week. It signals that the guy will work out now and then, but isn’t afraid to eat an entire pizza to himself (but then again,  neither am I?…). There are websites now dedicated to “How to Get the Perfect Dad Bod”, or “Why Girls Love The Dad Bod”, but there are some issues having presented themselves at this new trend.

The “dad bod” arguably started when Mackenzie Pearson wrote her article on the topic, and it blew up as a global phenomenon. One example I have for you is the charming Leonardo DiCaprio, who was recently photographed at the beach showing off his fbod, and embracing his famous dad figure. Women were torn, some loved it, whilst others complained that handsome Leo had gotten “chubby” or had “let himself go”.

So according to the recent stats, women are apparently more into the body type of a middle-aged father, than that of a guy who hits the gym every day of the week. That’s not a problem; it’s all down to preference. So naturally skinny guys that are unable to achieve said dad bod are mildly offended by the new trend, and have decided they are not a fan. However, before the dad bod craze started, men with a bit more meat that couldn’t do anything about it were equally offended when women lusted over buff/shredded/ripped guys that hit the gym every day. Apparently, there’s been no in between.

But unfortunately men, that’s what it’s like to be a women. One day, skinny, petite bodily frames, like Kate Moss, are what’s hot, the next is thick, curvaceous women, such as Nicki Minaj, are what’s preferred. And anyone in between or not included in these trends is often left feeling a bit rubbish, or are proud to be different. Apparently, nothing is good enough. However, in Pearson’s article I mentioned earlier, she gives some apparent reasons as to why women love this brand new craze, which has sparked a little bit of controversy.. The reasons she gave were:

• “It doesn’t intimidate us”
• “We like being the pretty one”
• “Better cuddling”
• “Good eats”
• “You know what you’re getting”.

And frankly, I don’t agree with Mackenzie. Not all women see their partner as competition, and someone that they have to look better in comparison whilst stood next to. Her statement “we like being the pretty one” is too superficial for my liking. She says that by already being with a guy with the body of a dad, you’ll get no disappointments in life, nor will you be snuggling next to “Edward Cullen”. I’m not here to tear apart the 19 year old University Student’s article, but I’ll provide you with the link so you can formulate your own opinions on her article.

So what can we establish from this? That some days skinny and muscular is great, whereas to others, meatier and curvaceous? I think what is important is to love your own body, because it’s the only one you’ll ever have. Embrace your skinny self, or your beautiful bod, because there is no wrong way to be a human. There is no point in shaming those who don’t fit the current culture’s ideals, or more importantly don’t fit your personal preferences. Shaming someone because they don’t have a body type that you like is so unnecessary, and just an unnecessary act.

One of my favourite illustrators, Melly Em Clark’s drawing below sums this up perfectly. I could not phrase the argument better if I tried. Not only is Mel one of the most genuine and down to earth people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being in touch with, but she’s also a “stark raving feminist” like myself. Nevertheless, I’ll post her links here so you can check her out, which I most definitely recommend you do. (Links: x, x, x, x, x, x,)

So embrace the dad bod. Embrace the un-dad bods. And most importantly, embrace everything in between. Until next time, vicccie x x