The stigma of body Image revisited.

[Adam]

At work, so short and to the point.

What is the causes for expected "norms" of body image in women?

Why is anaerobic exercise, and the subsequent "bulking" so frowned upon?

Will add to later.

[Sandra]

what are the causes for expected 'norms' of body image for anyone?

i personally think your second question speaks to the 'masculine' look of bulked up muscles. that may be a matter of personal taste. some people see it as masculine looking, while others see the work, energy, power, dedication, etc. behind it. my opinion.

[Gerd]

What is anaerobic execise, if I may ask?

[Adam]

Gerd:

Fancy (past my pay grade)way of saying weight lifting

[Adam]

Sandra:

Thanks for the grammar correction. "Thee months ago I could not spell Human, now I are one."

As what the RadFem says:

Masculinity and Femininity, as they are tagged to certain groups, is a social construct.

I believe, with no actual research, just internet reading/convo, is that women are conditioned to be "soft and fluffy" and view "bulking" as unattractive.

Exasperated by the fact that most of the bulking seen, in both sexes, in photos is from steroids; at 2ish% body fat; and very dehydrated.

[Gerd]

Adam wrote: "Gerd:
Fancy (past my pay grade)way of saying weight lifting"

Ah, I see.
Don't know about it being frowned upon, but I do wonder why anybody would do this for fun... (might well be they think the same about reading exercises - librobic? -, though).

[Sandra]

adam, i wasn't intending to correct your grammar, but, really, why are there body 'norms' for either male or female? i do lift weights for fun, gerd, and i really enjoy it - just like i enjoyed your word 'librobic'. good one!

but, the steroid-infused bulked-up bodies of either sex i find unattractive because they seem so fake, so unnatural. i used to read weight-lifting mags, and that whole competition-body look was just that, to me: a different world, different culture, different expectations, and different perspectives on beauty. i was never of that world.

a well-toned, muscular body, even one enhanced by weight-lifting, looks really good to me, be it male or female or anyone in between. i've heard both men and women express disgust for seeing muscles on women, and i've heard the exact opposite from both. so, i think it's a matter of personal opinion.

[Jonathon]

Gerd wrote: "What is anaerobic execise, if I may ask?"

Anaerobic exercise is exercise that focuses on muscles that does not get you breathing heavily. It was derived form some of the earlier work on human physiology, and was made popular, despite being wrong about how the body works.