The Dad Bod: An Impossible Body?

Abstract

The term “Dad Bod” first emerged in a 2015 article by college student Pearson and initially described a young male physique that balances fat and muscle and also connotes a relaxed lifestyle involving ample amounts of beer and pizza. The term has since gained in popularity and entered the household lexicon, often in relation to early-middle-aged men. Using Scott’s theory of “performative regulation” and digital articles from men’s health and fitness magazines, blogs, and other popular media outlets, this article examines connections between the Dad Bod and female sexual desire, health, well-being, men’s body positivity, and masculinity. The Dad Bod speaks to profound tensions in neoliberal society which men navigate in a range of ways by ignoring, resisting, and/or embodying this identity.