Unintended Consequences

The following is an email I received recently. At first it stunned me. Much of what Enlightened Male stands for was called into question, basically by the nature of the pols posted here and by casting focus on the commonly perceived flaws of the human body; for example, men grappling with their penis size. A significant percentage of men suffer too many occasions of inadequacy because they are convinced their penises are too small, yet I am hosting pols that reflect a narrow majority of men and women feel size matters. And it’s true, I do feature quite a few articles about body acceptance concerning issues like penis size, labia size, etc. Do these pols and articles, by their mere appearance on this site, simply focus attention on things guys and gals try not to think about, and negate the body acceptance mindset that I’m trying to promote?

Here is the email:

Dear Martin:

I am a female author writing about midlife men who are attracted to each other. For this project I have read widely – including one of your novels – and have visited your sites and read a number of your pieces. There is much there that has confirmed me in my endeavor.

I have to wonder why the The Enlightened Male OFTEN encourages a focus on things such as member size and fur thickness/distribution.

Supposedly your cause, if you will, is supporting men who are attracted to loving both men and women. Your novels and stories have this focus. You hope men will be self-accepting, all along the spectrum, but you also want to help them (or so I thought) to focus on what’s truly important in relationships: Love.

You applaud women who accept and love their special men. You gush how you wish there were more such women in the world. Do you really think the sort of woman who loves her man “no matter what” with respect to his sexuality is going to reject him for the “wrong” amount of body hair? I am confused by your frequent polls majoring on such minor B.S., Martin, when what matters is something far less tangible than preoccupations from which I would hope you would be aiming to liberate your site’s readers. There are plenty of “UN-Enlightened” Male websites out there, encouraging the frequent consideration of body hair thickness and penis size: Why run with that pack?

The characters in your novels are searingly relieved and thrilled to find brothers, kindred souls, with similar inner/lifelong needs. Are they then going to take out the ruler and measure conformity to fetishistic preferences, after lifetimes of closetedness? What a Disconnect! I think you’re opposing your authorial agenda here.

Most bisexual men, as most people, hunger deeply for unconditional acceptance. I would Continue reading

Self-Conscious About My Small Size

This is a comment written yesterday by a man named Jay. Since many of us are walking the same path, I thought I would call it to your attention . . .

Since puberty I have been more or less self-conscious about the small size of my penis. This has not however kept me from enjoying many happy sexual moments with men whose penises have usually been larger than mine. I am now in my sixties, and a new factor has entered my life. I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and put on a prostate-shrinking drug. The drug relieves my symptoms (frequent urination) but also seems to have caused my penis to shrink, even though it can sometimes reach the size it had when erect in the past. I realize that some shrinking of penis size is normal as men age. But now when I look in the mirror naked, I see a really small penis and this depresses me (and makes me self-conscious in the shower room).

In short, I pretty well accepted having a small endowment, but now that endowment seems to be becoming even shorter! Groan. I feel that many older men, particularly those on prostate meds, may be experiencing this phenomenon. Sorry to say it, but it does affect one’s self-esteem at least somewhat.

Having thought about this for the past year, I have come to the conclusion that the great advice on this site also applies to me and men like me. Be happy with what I’ve got, appreciate my penis as a beautiful part of me, and pay no attention to anybody who might turn a disapproving eye on it. But let’s be honest: it’s hard to stay positive about this. A loving partner can be very helpful. And I think it’s also helpful to be upfront with any partner, to let him know that “Hey, I’m still in here, still the same sexy guy I always was.” I plan to visit several old friends this summer (who have been sex partners of mine in the past), and I intend to be very honest with them and be proud of who I am and what I still have to offer. We might even have a good chuckle about it, and then get on with all the intimacy we can muster.

And it should go without saying, good sex is far more than penis size. The whole body is capable of amazing sensations and pleasures. The “blessing” in this may be that it de-emphasizes the focus on the penis during sex and leads us to new vistas. Like so much in life—as we grow more mature, we can become more mindful and sensitive towards ourselves and our partner. Good wishes to all who find themselves on this path.

If Jay’s message impacted you the way it has me, your heart has gone out to a thoughtful man. A man in his sixties, based on the all to familiar size matters comments, the jokes and teasing, has endured an unwarranted emotional dilemma by simply seeing his penis in a mirror. The emotional pangs are even present by being with or seeing larger size men. Jay is a man many of us can identity with.

Jay is also a man that has gone beyond the superficial mores of human intimacy so common in those who are basically out for no more than a piece of ass. He has discovered the essence of life’s most valued gift, that sex is so much more than being penetrated by an enormous penis, that human intimacy does not begin and end with a man’s dick.

Reread Jay’s last paragraph. It reflects a profound and basic truth.

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My Body Is Hairy

A question from Anonymous:

I was wondering about an insecurity of mine. I’m still a young guy, but I have a hairy body. It’s just my back that basically isn’t hairy. Do guys find guys attractive that have a hairy body? My ass is also pretty hairy (I’m talking cheeks too…) and shaving or using creams really hurts when it grows back, because I guess the hair is too course and dark.

Do you have any suggestions?

My reply:

The beautiful thing about the male body is the dynamic variations from one man to the next. Body hair is just one of the variations A man can be very hairy to practically hairless, and everything in between. Hair patterns and colors are part of the mix, as varied as snowflakes. All of this influences your potential mate or companion. No matter how hairy your are, there is someone out there that will be wild about you just the way you are. And as far as hairy men are concerned, judging by the pol below, they are very popular and seen as masculine, attractive and desirable men.

Then again, if you are concerned, if you feel you have too much hair and feel insecure about it, there are excellent remedies to consider that address this issue. Laser hair removal for one. Most guys aren’t concerned about having a hairy ass … many of us think hairy asses are extremely sexy, but you might not want hair on your shoulders, for example. Schedule an appointment with a technician that specializes in laser hair removal (waxing is just a temporary fix I wouldn’t recommend with your circumstances), get their analysis, determine if you want to spend the money, then go for it if it will make you feel better about yourself.

But to answer your question directly; yes, many guys find male body hair irresistibly attractive.

MALE BODY HAIR

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Me & My Body

This is a hard-won perspective written by a man named Tom, a perspective developed against the odds during the course of his lifetime. Tom thought Enlightened Male would be a good place to tell the world his story, and for that I am grateful.   -Martin

ME & MY BODY

I grew up with definite feelings of shame about my body, especially those parts between the navel and the knees that didn’t even really have names in my family. I didn’t talk about my penis or my anus even when I had medical problems or a curiosity about what was happening to me during puberty. Anything going on ‘down there’ was a taboo subject in our household so nudity was never even considered an option.

The lack of information about sex and sexuality left me in the dark to find my own way around. Information and misinformation was gleaned from my peer group many of whom were equally in the dark. Thus like a huge majority of mankind I grew up thinking that the sensual, sexual and even aesthetic appeal of bodies was something to be ashamed of and to hide.

I am now in my middle sixties and for the past twenty years I have begun to celebrate my own unique body that gives me huge pleasure as well as some pain and I have come to the realisation that I am not ugly because I’m fat, not disgusting because I’m getting older and my skin is not as smooth and unblemished as it once was, not unlovable because it takes me longer to get an erection and sometimes I can’t sustain it. I’m not alone in having the feelings and fantasies about others, not unique in finding bodies endlessly fascinating and that there are many people who love to be naked and uninhibited and have, hopefully, lost much of the shame that family and society have planted in us.

I now celebrate my body through being naked and enjoying the air on my skin, I am uninhibited about being photographed without my clothes and sharing these images with those in the world who aren’t shocked by the sight of a male body and the erect penis.

I am fascinated by my fellow man and the beauty of his body and endeavour to capture these wonderful creatures on camera and hopefully, together with my models, I can find a new way of representing us and our sensibilities to the rest of the world. We are not just the stereotypes that the media and advertising promote but we come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. We also have our own particular racial characteristics and are informed by our sexuality. Many of us have physical and psychological differences and, most importantly we are all born, grow old and die and at every stage of that journey we are equally valid.

Some say our bodies are ravaged by time. Maybe, in our extreme old age, they are. But a better term for our bodies prior to our extreme old age would simply be aged. Time changes our bodies like a splash of water changes a fine painting done in water colors. It’s in the cards for all of us, and it happens so much quicker than we think possible. This is why Enlightened Male exists, to celebrate our bodies and ourselves, to illustrate the beauty of life beyond material and theological clutter, to focus on the basic and important things Mother Nature has given us. Maybe Tom has helped us learn to accept and enjoy who we are, and have fun simply appreciating it.

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The Grand Design

Men:
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When you think about it, you realize the male body could have had a much more practical design. All the drama could have been eliminated. The testicles for example: they could just as easily been on the inside instead of hanging down between our legs. Certainly men would have been far less vulnerable. Why add a body part that so many say makes a man look indecent when he’s naked.

Pubic hair isn’t necessary either. It certainly doesn’t help keep you warm and it doesn’t assist reproduction (though many believe that two hairy pubic mounds grinding together makes for some rather pleasant sensations). So why do we have it calling attention to that part of the body, adding to the concept of indecency, collecting pheromones and such, sometimes even getting stuck between our teeth. Plus, without it, you wouldn’t have to shave to get that smooth look … you would have been born with it.

The penis itself could have been designed with far less character. Why all the different sizes, shapes and colors? Why is it always protruding from our body, just hanging there as if it has nothing better to do? Why all that loose skin that slides up and down; why the walnut-shaped glans on the end, or the veiny skin, or the foreskin so many of us have to suffer being trimmed off? It could have been designed to retract into our body, only to appear in perhaps a plain pencil-like state when it’s time to procreate. Fish have something like this. And there would be many advantages: we wouldn’t look naughty when we’re naked, it wouldn’t be creating unsightly bulges in our jeans, we wouldn’t be thinking about it all the time, teenagers would never get caught playing with themselves.

Even the anus doesn’t have to be so dramatic, hidden as it is within those fleshy globes, always damp and dewy, igniting the lurid imaginations of so many adventurous lovers. It could have been nothing more than a nondescript orifice barely perceptible to the casual observer, sans the pucker, the creases, the surrounding darker colors, the endless variety of hair patterns, and even that characteristic smell. In it’s current representation, you never quite know what to expect when your thumbs pry open those fleshy cheeks.

And consider the brain, our largest sex organ. It could have been programmed differently. Had it been, it would never occur to any of us that nudity is indecent. We wouldn’t be thinking about sex nineteen times a day. No masturbation or long nights of sweaty passion. No inferiority complexes over penis size. No wondering what someone looks like naked (you wouldn’t care). You would’ve never heard of oral sex, nor would it occur to you to stick your finger in or lick someones anus. There would be no such thing as a porn industry, or a suggestive swimsuit, or a condom. When a man and a woman decided to have a baby, he would simply press against her, his pencil-like penis would protract, then enter her and immediately deposit the required amount of semen. No extraordinary sensations, no holding each other late into the night, no earthy body smells or bed sheets to change in the morning. In thinking about it, I believe I have created a new fantasy for the Religious Right.

Women:

Women could have the same practical design. All the compelling nuances would be gone, the dramatic curves (which are now obviously part of her sexual allure), the divided plump folds between her legs, currently unique as snowflakes in their colorful variety of shapes and configurations, the enticing inner lips that can swell so delightfully with passion, the mysterious creases and crevices that are so engaging to explore, the mysteries we know she’s hiding when she crosses her legs. Instead she would have a barely perceptible aperture somewhere below her navel, just large enough to receive one of those pencil-like penises when she decides to get pregnant, yet quite capable of yawing open when it’s time to get a baby out. We could dispense with those feminine fragrances that steep between her legs and zing through every fiber in our bodies like a mind-altering drug.

Forget the breasts. The functioning glands would be inside her chest. Her nipples would be no puffier, larger, or sensitive than a man’s. Other than the muscular structure, just as it would be between our legs, there would be no difference between the male and female chest. At the beach everyone would be topless, and women would save a small fortune on swimsuits. The nipples would, however, swell just a bit when it comes time to accommodate a baby’s hungry lips. I guess she would have to cover them then.

Her anus, much like a man’s as it already is, would still be like a man’s, sans character. Nothing tempting about it. No drama, no potential for naughty sex. No tempted fingers or tongues, no squeals of delight, no secrets that lovers keep. Compliments of Mother Nature’s lack of inventiveness, it would be a Utopian world where humanity no longer had anything to feel modest or confused about, or ashamed of unless they’ve been eating too many Twinkies and French fries.

It all makes you think, doesn’t it. We aren’t born with a practical design. There is a compelling purpose, a purpose beyond procreation and misguided mores that so many of us have failed to recognize. I’m glad we are the way we are. Otherwise, what’s the point of living?

©Martin Brant, April 24, 2012

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Naked Boys


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Maybe you’ve been wondering if the citizens are enlightened down in Sydney. This should answer the question.

From NINE to FIVE.com.au, by Zilka Grogan

It’s not so much singing and dancing nude in front of a faceless audience that is freaking actor Elijah Rohner out.

Rather it’s the intimidating thought that his nearest and dearest will be watching on as he bares it all in the name of performance.

The Double Bay resident performs in the nuddy for almost the entire 90 minutes of the off-Broadway hit Naked Boys Singing!, opening at the Seymour Centre next week.

“I don’t necessarily care about people I don’t know but I’ve got all my friends coming and that will probably freak me out,” Rohner said.

“The good thing is you can’t really see the audience when you’re on stage because it’s so dark. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping.” Continue reading

The Systematic Degradation of Nudity

Somehow it began with Adam and Eve . . .

By Dr. Joseph Langen at The Daily News Online dot com

On a recent cruise, I noticed the reproduction of a classic sculpture of a nude male athlete in the fitness center. I found it inspirational. Outside the exercise room I noticed an almost identical sculpture in an area occasionally traversed by teens and children. This sculpture sported a strategically placed scallop shell.

When I returned from the cruise, I installed a digital art exhibit, my latest project. Two of the pieces had whimsical mermaids as subject matter. Questions arose as to the appropriateness of displaying images of mermaids with breasts included. They were eventually fitted with their own shells before display.

These two experiences got me thinking about the topic of this column. The human body has served as a subject for art since the Stone Age. Artists celebrated the human form for centuries. Throughout the history of Western Art, I think it would be safe to say that the historical figure most often depicted nude was Jesus, mostly as a baby.

Things changed with the Puritan and Victorian times. Over the years we have become squeamish about depictions of the human body. Other than in art galleries, sexuality in our culture is often relegated to the realms of advertising and pornography. Sex is used to sell just about everything. Pornography is considered evil by many but remains the most popular topic on the Internet. Continue reading