Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is the practice of building large, defined muscles, often for competition. When competing, bodybuilders show their bodies to various judges, who award points based on aesthetic appearance. Men are typically associated with this sport, and becoming a male bodybuilder is consistent with ideals of masculinity. Judging focuses on the definition and symmetry of the muscles. Conversely, women who enter this realm contradict traditional ideals of femininity. Traditionally, judges evaluated women less on their musculature and more on their ability to provide a feminine appearance, although these criteria are changing. Therefore, when women do successfully enter this domain, they often encounter much conflict with the feminine ideal both upon their entry and in judging processes.

This entry will focus on female bodybuilding. More specifically, it attends to the historical context of bodybuilding and women's entry into this domain. Also, this entry addresses how women engage in “gender-bending” and discuss the challenges that women have faced in bodybuilding. Last, it will provide some general conclusions and possible future directions of female bodybuilding.