In response, manipulation of weight, muscles, and physical appearance can become an object of fixation, as an element of oppression that the individual can control. The oppression of gay men - including societal ridicule and family rejection - frequently leads to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. This hierarchy echoes societal issues of homophobia, racism, and misogyny that gay men, especially gay femme men and gay men of color, must contend with on a daily basis. Whiteness, low-body fat, physical height, muscles, and masculine features are prized, while darker skin, slight stature, and feminine affectation are ridiculed. It can be witnessed in the ads on popular gay men’s hookup apps like Grindr, where many profiles specify, “No Asians or Fems,” creating a tangible hierarchy of physical desirability. These societal standards bleed over into a sexualized subculture that places a premium on muscularity and masculinity.
