In the last few years, advocates have created a spotlight around how our culture perceives women’s bodies. This contestation particularly targets the muscularity and strength. That long, striated slab of the rectus abdominis—the vaunted six-pack—continues to be a muscle group universally revered by men and women alike. The female version of this muscular glamazon aesthetic doesn’t pack quite the same punch. Yet, it does just the opposite – it ignites the fierce debate.
Fitness culture is becoming more widely accepted, but the average American woman still shuns the body of a female weightlifter. This stigma is largely based on misconceptions that have their origins back in the 1970s and 1980s. This cultural perception has led society to fear and censure women’s muscularity. It has contributed to the perpetuation of a very limited definition of the perfect female form.
First, the biceps are not the strongest muscle in your arm. Like all good gadgets, they only show their full power once you bust out the classic “Popeye” pose. When the arm is in a different position, that’s when the brachialis muscle comes in to play. This more profound muscle is a “pure flexor” and produces even greater force. This demonstrates the multi-faceted nature of muscle function as well as the inadequacy of overly simple ideas of strength that rely only on observable muscle mass.
Most Americans today think of the perfect body in terms of strength and muscle mass. This concept almost always moves away from the perspective of a super-defined six-pack. Rather, the ideal shifts to the focus above on the flat stomach, together with a small waist and V-shaped torso. To build this look, people usually focus on building individual muscle groups, like the deltoids, pectorals, and latissimus dorsi.
Social psychologist Jaclyn A. Siegel has explored how societal ideals surrounding male bodies contribute to eating disorders and muscle dysmorphic conditions. In her research, she emphasizes that the societal pressure to conform to these ideals can lead to detrimental health outcomes.
The arguably most famous fitness expert online, Scott Fitzsimmons, went further explaining the ideal male body, using iconic examples such as Captain America. He states, “Let’s start with a quintessential male superhero: Captain America.” He further explains that achieving an exaggerated triangle shape—characterized by wide shoulders and a narrow waist—requires focusing on specific muscle groups: “Certainly, the arms – triceps, biceps. Then on to deltoids, pectorals and latissimus dorsi, to form the warped triangle from broad shoulders to a tiny waist.”
The idea that women need to be wary of getting too muscular is still ingrained in American society. Fitzsimmons notes that societal expectations dictate a fear among women regarding muscularity: “You don’t want to be seen as a man. That fear still persists around women and exercise.” This fear leads a number of women to choose less extreme training routines, which don’t build as much muscle.
Moreover, Fitzsimmons points out how gym culture reflects these societal norms: “All you need to do is go to a gym and see what’s happening there.” So it’s no wonder that a lot of women are intimidated to give weightlifting or bodybuilding a go. They worry about looking too muscular, too masculine.
Klein, another expert in body image issues, remarks on the automatic association between six-pack abs and fitness: “It’s funny that if we see someone with a six-pack, we automatically think they’re strong and really fit.” This really emphasizes the complexities around body image perceptions as well as how much they can vary based on gender.
Too many Americans are obsessed with exercising to specifically target muscles to meet their aesthetic goals. Yet, it’s important to recognize that female weightlifters are subjected to body shaming in unjust ways. These muscular physiques are often declared by society and the media to be “too muscular” and “too masculine” for female athletes. This mischaracterization lays bare a larger unease with powerful women.
This historical context is key in understanding how perceptions of female musculature have developed. In the 1980s and ’90s, the more muscular aesthetic of female weightlifters was stigmatized. This stigma presented obstacles for women who wished to develop muscular physiques or engage in serious strength training.
As society progresses towards greater inclusivity in body representation, there remains a need for ongoing dialogue about women’s strength and athleticism. By subverting the idea of what the perfect female form should look like, this paves the way for a more positive approach to fitness. It supports body positivity for all individuals.