Mine are bigger than yours: Societies view of the female body builder.

What do we see when we see a female body builder? In the reading for today, Roussel et al, explains how the female body builders are Gender Outlaws in our respective communities. These women are trend setters when exemplifying strength and femininity. They embody a different standard of beauty. The risk of stigma is throughout society, but only outside of their subculture. However, do we really see them as such? Female body builders are seen in a negative light according to Roussel. There seems to be a contradiction of femininity and muscularity in our society associated with female body builders, as well aesthetic judgment standard of beauty, which is simply as Katian describes, as something that satisfies and pleases our sensory organs.

However, male body builders are looked at by society in a totally different way. Male body builders are looked at like the “real superheroes” of society, sculpting and creating bodies so massive that people are idolize them. However, what do these men do to get and maintain these bodies? Some body builders turn to surgery for their lean and sculpted muscles. Male and female procedures such as High- Def lipo-sculpting, which literally sucks away the fat around and in between your ab muscles, allows you to have the ultimate body builder physique. This is a common procedure among body builders because of the low risk. shortrecovery.periodhttp://maleplasticsurgerynewyork.com/bodybuilder/

Along with the social stigmatization, natural and non- natural female bodybuilders can face serious health issues. In an article written by Livestrong.com, official partner of the Livestrong campaign, it states that bodybuilding and overuse of your muscles can cause long-term negative effects. Long and strenuous pressure on joints causes arthritis, along with potential bone damage. What is more important are the effects that the life style of a bodybuilder can have on their cardiac health. Although the risks are minimal, they are still there. http://www.livestrong.com/article/549093-long-term-effects-of-natural-bodybuilding/

This article written by Roussel, looks at society through a heterosexual lens, but what about the lesbian or gay community and their beauty standards? Are female body builders considered beautiful in a lesbian of gay context opposed to a heterosexual one? The article by Brandon Ambrosino titled “The Tyranny of Bluffness” gives us a little proof on why gay or lesbian communities might think a little bit differently, it stated that a larger percentage of gays have and pay for gym memberships, trainers, spas and weight and managements programs. Are there any specific gay or lesbian body building contest or events?

           In this video above taken from YouTube, it depicts “The Gay National Body-Building championship” in Philadelphia. This event is specifically designated for gay and lesbian members of the Philadelphia community. What I found fascinating was the choice of the audience. The announcer had to be explicit in stating that this is truly a gay event, but don’t be alarmed. The video also depicts the way in which the Body building community operates as a subculture. Along with that subculture, there is annexed section such as the one shown above. The guys in the video that are heterosexual don’t go to see the female body builders, but the male. However the female attendees go to see both.