Current Pro Bodybuilding and Emphasis on Hyper-Masculinity are Detrimental

Bodybuilding used to help bridge the gap between masculine/feminine gender constructs and it was rewarded. Bodybuilding used to strive for balance with both masculine and feminine gender attributes. The sport was obviously heavier on the masculine side but feminine attributes were important to help balance out the body and it was highlighted. One example to exemplify this is Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbo, both Mr. Olympia winners, took ballet and posing lessons to focus on the presentation of their bodies as a work of art not just a mass of masculine muscle. The sport in general to the public was also more acceptable and looked at positively. Today, bodybuilding has been accelerated so much in the hyper-masculine gender construct of packing on as much muscle as possible on to a man and woman's frame that it now has been characterized as a "freak show". People might say that this has been a product of pursuing profit(supplement industry is a billion dollar industry) by following the hegemonic ideology of rewarding masculinity but in doing so it has actually put itself in an isolated market and in a sense demonized itself. Also it is also important to address that not all of the capital gained from supplements necessarily comes from muscle and fitness supplements. As a side note, these supplements don't do what they imply they might/may do but that is for another blog. Take a look at these pictures and videos so you can compare the past and present with the emphasis of pointing out masculinity and femininity. Also you can see the transition and clear difference with a comparison photo of 7 time mr. olympia arnold schwarzenegger (70's and 80) and ronnie coleman 8 time (90's and 00's). I assume bloggers on this site being from the same kinesiology classes already understand the feminine and masculine gender constructs so i won't go into specifics of it. if you do need clarity respond to the post and ill explain further.
FRANK ZANE(3 time mr. olympia, 70's and 80's)

	ED CORNEY (70's and 80's)

BOB PARIS (80's)

RONNIE COLEMAN(8 time mr. olympia late 90's and 00's) AND ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (7 time mr. olympia 70's and 80)

JAY CUTLER 4 time mr. olympia (00's)

MARKUS RUHL(00's)

These are a few videos that point out masculine and feminine constructs altered within bodybuilding from the past to the present.

1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXttYXbKi0s

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbo

this is pointing out the importance of femininity with presenting the body...

2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOPbOCvMsLs&feature=related

Frank Zane

as you can see in this video there is a continual emphasis on aesthetics and artistic presentation. The waist is thin, the muscularity is present but not over emphasized, the movement of the body crosses into both gender realms, and it is applauded for. There is a balance of masculine and feminine gender.

3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nmkj_kxUR84

Dorian Yates(6 time mr. olympia)

this is a transitional point where there was a huge transition from aesthetics to pure muscularity...listen to music presentation and how his posing routine differs from the previous one of Frank Zane. What is clearly emphasized?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWubJ5OrmjE

Ronnie Coleman (8 time mr. olmypia)

Clearly there is evidence of hyper-masculinity. He comes out as a king and is focusing on mostly on his muscularity and dominance which are gendered masculine. The analysts focus heavily on the muscle and masculine characteristics too. There is a huge distention of his abdominal which is a clear cut violation of bodybuilding's principles which are to have all of these in one, muscularity, symmetry and proportion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hZf9XyJpQo

phil heath

phil heath is a newer bodybuilder and will most likely be the future for the bodybuilding scene. it is important to see how he is over-conforming to the construction and function of bodybuilding today. listen how he is judged and promoted along the gendered masculine guidelines and not so much if at all feminine attributes. His behavior and music choices represents characteristics which are relative to the over-conforming behavior.

POINT: The point of this blog is to point out how the hyper-masculinity of today's bodybuilding has led to its own demise in many ways. The balance of femininity in the sport previously is what allowed it to expand and be more positively accepted by the public as a beneficial sport.

POST ANY COMMENTS OR RESPONSES IF ANYTHING IS UNCLEAR OR IF THERE ARE JUST QUESTIONS/COMMENTS IN GENERAL.

Derek Pavia