Are Your Penis Bigger Than Most Men?

Historical context

But to learn what it means to measure the size of a penis relative to other men, we must take a step back and consider the history in which this question began to be asked. Historically, the size of men’s genitals was associated with masculinity, virtue and sexual ability. Men with massive phalluses, such as those from Egypt, Greece and Rome, are a common motif of power and fertility in art and literature. Across medieval Europe, the shape of a man’s penis was regarded as an indicator of his social status and status in authority. All these historical examples serve as a testament to the persistence of the cultural obsession with genital size and its social significance.

More recently, the influence of “Are you bigger than most men? is only made sharper through the advent of the internet and social media. Online forums and sites enabled individuals to readily compare themselves with others and feel reassured or assured about their own bodies. That has given rise to many discussion and disagreements over the size of the penis, with some men being bullied into feeling they must fit some particular mould.

Firstly, it is important to understand that penis size is determined by genes. Just as height or hairstyles are genetic, the size and form of a man’s penis also depends on his parents’ genes. Which means that there is plenty of variation in normal, natural-looking sizes and shapes. Indeed, a man’s penis size is thought to be 80 per cent of his genes, and 20 per cent of his hormones and surroundings.

Now, let’s talk numbers. A study in the British Journal of Urology International reported that the average size of a man’s flaccid penis is 3.61 inches (9.16 cm) and the average size of an erect penis is 5.16 inches (13.12 cm). That is, most men are in this range and anything above or below is considered above average or below average, respectively. The average male’s penis size, too, varies geographically and ethnically. For instance, the average Asian man’s erect penis length is 4.33 inches (11.03 cm), while the African men’s average is 6.3 inches (16 cm).

Key figures

Perhaps the biggest exponent of penis size is the doctor Alfred Kinsey, a pioneering sex researcher and author of the famous Kinsey Reports in the 1940s and ’50s. Kinsey’s work revealed an average penis size of about 5.5 inches, when held straight, dispelling the big-is-better myth. It was a revolutionary finding that disrupted traditional conceptions of penis size and catapulted the topic into the public consciousness.

One other leading expert in the study of penis size is Dr. David Veale, a psychiatrist and researcher who has written several papers about it. Veale’s study concluded that the average penis is actually less than previously estimated and that most men lie in the narrow end of the spectrum. These studies have debunked some of the stereotypes of penis size and spurred a conversation about what’s normal and healthy.

Scientific perspective

Scientifically speaking, studies of penis size have been mixed. While some researchers have indicated that penis size isn’t a strong predictor of sexual satisfaction or performance, others have linked size to self-esteem. The question of how much penis size matters remains a hot button issue in science, and scientists study the psychological and social consequences of insecurities about penis size.

Societal perspectives

Socially, the question ‘Do you have a bigger penis than most guys? can elicit all sorts of responses. Some may think that a big penis is a minor and pointless issue, others might think it’s a product of insecurity or social pressure. Popular and media focus on body size can encourage unwarranted stereotypes and unrealistic expectations that promote negative self-perception and body dysmorphia in some people.

But what about those who profess to have an impressively larger than average penis?

The reality is that while there are exceptions to this rule, most men who boast about a larger-than-average penis are either lying or underestimating. This is because of what is known as the “self-selection bias” — that is, people with bigger penises are more likely to fill out a study or questionnaire about penis size. Even misleading measurements, such as determining height at the bottom of the penis instead of at the pubic bone, may produce distorted outcomes.

So why does penis size matter so much to men?

The solution is in what people expect and think. A study in the Journal of Sex Research concluded that men with a bigger penis had higher self-esteem and sexual satisfaction. It’s because they assume that a larger penis is synonymous with improved sexual efficacy and more masculinity. But that’s not a science, since penis size is not a predictor of sexual performance or fertility.

Further, fetishising penis size created an enviable industry of products and treatments that promised to enlarge the penis. They range from pills and creams to surgical operations that purport to enlarge a man’s penis. Sadly, these products tend to be scientifically flawed and even harmful. The only method of growing a man’s penis successfully is surgery, which is extremely risky and often not recommended unless a condition precludes it.

Until then, is it a reply to “are your penis larger than most men?”? Probably not. Because men typically fall somewhere in the middle of the penis range, and the claims of way-above-average penises are often up for grabs. Don’t forget that your penis size is genes and has nothing to do with sex performance or being a man. So men can stop worrying about the size and start focusing on a healthier sexual relationship with their partner. As for the ocean, it doesn’t matter how big your boat is, it’s just a matter of how big you can make it roll.