Men have long been fascinated by the size of their penis. Much as it’s a private, almost taboo topic, it has now found its way into many corners of society, including politics. Since ancient times, a man’s penis has always been linked to masculinity, authority and domination. In this essay, we will consider whether or not the size of the penis correlates with politics, and how it confirms that men remain obsessed with it.
The Historical Value of Penis Size – Introduction
The earliest known references to penis size are from ancient Egyptian writings, which regarded large penises as symbolising fertility and power. Indeed, the fertility and creative goddess Min was frequently portrayed with a raised, bulging penis. The same relationship between penis size and power is evident in the ancient Greek and Roman art and writings. Michelangelo’s epic statue of David, from the Renaissance, exemplifies the masculine ideal, where a richly sown penis represents power and powerlessness.
As was the case with most tribal cultures, penis size signified masculinity and sacrosanct heroism. In Africa, for instance, the Maasai tribe held that a man with a larger penis would hunt and fight better. In some cultures, smaller men had their penises enlarged to an extent that they were regarded as submissive and ridiculed or shamed.
By contrast, for some Asian societies, the shorter penis was a mark of sophistication. Throughout Japan, a small penis was ‘chinpoko’, which was considered aesthetically beautiful. This romanticisation of a diminutive penis was also seen in classical Chinese culture, where a diminutive penis was thought to be gentle and poetic.
The illusion of penis size has also contributed to medical and scientific theory. In the 19th century, doctors thought that the size of a man’s penis was an indicator of his general health and temperament. Smaller penises were perceived as an indicator of weakness and sickness, whereas larger penises reflected strong health. This conception even served as the basis for eugenics, with some doctors suggesting that men with smaller penises should be sterilised so that they didn’t transmit ‘lesser’ genes.
More recently, the notion of a penis as an indicator of manliness and sexual skill has become firmly ingrained in popular culture. Poonography and the objectification of the body male have consolidated this belief that the larger the penis, the better. This has resulted in a rise in demand for penis enlargement treatments and medications, despite the absence of any scientific evidence that these are efficient.
Penis Size and Political Power
Perhaps the most obvious example of this association is the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the US. Throughout the campaign, Trump often spoke of his “big” and “strong” penis, and went as far as to say that there was “no problem” with the size of his genitals. Such obvious machismo and fixation on size wasn’t just an expression of Trump’s insecurities, but was a means of reaching out to a certain sort of male voter who believes that size means strength and achievement.
But Trump is not alone in using penis size as a strategy to gain power and appeal to voters. As the then Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio pointed out in 2016, making an unsubtle reference to Trump’s masculinity, “you know what they say about men with small hands.” Such juvenile, caustic statements are hardly new in politics, with male politicians sometimes exploiting their size or appearance as a way to insult their opponents and make themselves seem better than them.
There’s also some evidence that the penis-size obsession extends beyond the self to the political realm. According to a study published in the Social Science Quarterly, men with smaller penises are also more likely to favour dictators and dislike women and sexual minorities. The reason, the researchers speculated, was that they sought to make up for perceived physical weaknesses by being associated with powerful, dominant individuals.
This correlation between penis size and political ideologies is not unique to the US. A Norwegian study by a team at the University of Oslo revealed that larger penises predicted higher voting support for conservative and nationalist parties. They argued that this was because they were striving for superiority and a desire to preserve the gender roles associated with conservative ideology.
Second, the penis-size obsession is not confined to the political right. Indeed, according to some, the liberal left itself is responsible for sustaining this obsession. The proliferation of “size queens” – gay men who seek out penises that are larger – was condemned as perpetuating social assumptions that the bigger you are, the better. This is apparent in the popular dating app Grindr, where users search for a mate according to how large their penis must be.
The Power of Media and Advertising
It is also the media and advertising industries that support the penis-sizing fetish. Brand adverts for enlargement pills and devices include words and imagery that reinforce the idea that men are only as good as their penises. Such commercials frequently appeal to men’s insecurities and claim to improve their sexual performance and pleasure.
The dehumanisation of men’s bodies, and the idolisation of enormous penises, are also commonplaces in the entertainment industry. The male protagonist in films, TV shows and music videos is always tall, lean and handsome, sustaining the message that size equals strength and appeal.
What Does It Do to Men’s Mental Health?
Our penis obsession can affect the psychological wellbeing of men. Research suggests that men who feel unsatisfied with their penis size tend to suffer from body image issues, low self-esteem and depression. This can result in their obsession with their penis size, thereby negatively impacting their social life and wellbeing.
Furthermore, stress about societal demands for masculinity and power can be accompanied by harmful acts of aggression, misogyny and sexual violence. This not only impacts men, it also reinforces toxic gender stereotypes and creates toxic masculinity.
Conclusion:
The obsession with penis size, in short, lies at the very heart of society, and its pull reaches far beyond politics into other realms. The history of penis size, the relationship between size and political strength, and the media and advertising all bear witness to men’s continuing preoccupation with size. Our society must knock down this kind of ideology and replace it with body positivity and a positive masculinity culture to escape the ravaging penis-size paralysis.
