Self-Perception of Penis Size

Masculinity is a word that originated in the late fourteenth century as a simple way to separate something according to gender. Later, this word took on a whole different meaning and this meaning is still used today. To most, the word masculine denotes traits that are stereotypically defined as "male" – strength, boldness, toughness of character, manliness, and even aggression.

The Link Between Masculinity and Penis Size

In our society, unfortunately, penis size is directly linked to masculinity. Although the word "penis" never appears in the definition of masculinity, some feel that the two are linked because the penis is the most definitive aspect of being a man. Because of this linkage, the size of a man's penis is greatly important to him.

For decades, men have had to deal with ridicule because of their penis size; in locker rooms across the country, men are judged because of the size of their penis – if it is big, they are revered and given nicknames that indicate that they are stud; if it is too small, they are teased and called demeaning names that reduce their self-worth.

Overall Penis Perception

In 2005, a study was done that showed that most men have no true perception of what a typical penis size is and they have do not have an accurate assessment of what their own penis size even is. Ninety-two men were surveyed and all of them assumed that they had a small penis – after being measured, none of them actually had a small penis. Why do mean have such incorrect perceptions about their own penis size?

Penis Misperception

Most of the misperception comes from a lack of proper education. When men are boys, they grow up catching glimpses of the penises of an adult male – their father when he gets out of the shower, or even the naughty channel that they are not supposed to be watching. When they see the penises of their adult role models, these boys immediately feel inferior and that feeling sometimes never goes away.

Once these boys reach high school, the size of their penis is so hotly debated in locker rooms and by their peers that it becomes an issue that cannot be discussed. They cannot ask someone what the appropriate size of a penis should be without feeling embarrassed. When they try to do their own research, they often turn to pornography which has proven time and again to be a poor educator on penis size.

Additionally, when a man looks down and sees his own penis, his perception is skewed because of the angle in which he is seeing his own penis. It is important for men to discuss their penis size with other men and to learn to become comfortable in their own skin.

How can a man ever obtain a healthy self-perception of his penis size? While a loving partner and a great support system, as well as a good health education can help a man's self-perception of his penis size greatly, counseling might also be in order. It is important for someone else to tell a man what size his penis is and to educate him about penis myths and misperceptions.