The Grotesque Female Body(Builder): Muscle

CEU eTD Collection

In partialIn fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree Masterof Arts of in T HE G M ROTESQUE USCLE Supervisor: Professor Department of Gender Studies Central EuropeanCentral University M Dominika Milanovich Budapest, Hungary ESSES Gender F Submitted to EMALE 2012 By

Studies. U

P Anna LoutfiAnna

B B

OUNDARIES

ODY

UILDER

CEU eTD Collection psychology.existential Key and isolation freedom, death, human: being of concerns meaninglessness. final four the to related to (1980) Yalom of Finally, machines. and bodybuilders female to 1991) (Haraway, cyborg the of notion the include also I part, last this In activity. this e to attached be can that meanings and and motivations 1993) (Pope, dysmorphia muscle the of of category understandings diagnostic their and use, steroid justify bodybuilders way the 2) community bodybuilder the of outside and inside both people by perceived is body female hypermuscular with conducted thesis my of qu the of notion the to connections possible its exploring by body that of theorization the on focus I that, After body. female hypermuscular the normalize to attempts institutional the summarize aren this in participation 2001) (Dworkin, muscularity” of ceiling glass “the activity. this a as bodybuilding female investigates thesis This

words: eer (Richardson, 2008), and 2008), (Richardson, eer

female bodybuilding, grotesque, queer, queer, grotesque, bodybuilding, female

based on a feminist research method research feminist a on based F irst I introduce the figure of the female bodybuilder by using the concept of of concept the using by bodybuilder female the of figure the introduce I irst

bodybuilders, and is aimed at the investigation of three topic three of investigation the at aimed is and bodybuilders,

rsn a osbe nepeain f h acut o m interviewees my of accounts the of interpretation possible a present

bsd n h wr o Lw (98 ad ewo (98, n I and (1998), Heywood and (1998) Lowe of work the on based a

the “female grotesque” “female the ABSTRACT I i

apply the existential psychological framework framework psychological existential the apply

luiae h itmt rltosis between relationships intimate the illuminate

consists of t of consists , then I provide a short history of women’s women’s of history short a provide I then , practice, and the body being produced by produced being body the and practice, gender, steroid gender,

(Russo, he analysis of seven interviews interviews seven of analysis he 1995). - ecs adcin ) the 3) addiction xercise use, muscle dysmorphia, muscle use,

The empirical part part empirical The s: 1) the way the the way the 1) s:

CEU eTD Collection younger brother patience. and support their for friends and family my thank I Finally, work. this of theimportanttopics of thesis. my to time their of some devoting for and kindness their for interviewees my to grateful am I thank suggestions, encouragement, and for foundations Studies. teaching ofGender methe to like would I foremost, and First A cknowledgements Thanks to Titanilla Fiáth prison psychologist, for prisonpsychologist, Fiáth Thanks Titanilla to , Dani

for for

being flatmate nice my

ii my supervisor, supervisor, my

in difficult times. the

helpful discussion related to some related tosome helpful discussion Anna

A big thank big A Loutfi

for her clever clever her for - you to my my to you

CEU eTD Collection Bibliography APPENDICES VII. Conclusion interpretation apossible life: of concerns existential the and bodybuilder female VI. Thecyborgian practice as apathological V. Bodybuilding community thebodybuilding of outside inside and female bodybuilder the of IV. Theperception III. Methodology bodybuilder thefemale of II. Thefigure I. Introduction 2. Institutionalized2. attempts tonormalize 1. The of glass female ceilingand ofmuscularity thedevelopment bodybuilding APPENDIX II:APPENDIXInformed Consent Form I:ListAPPENDIX Preliminary of Questions 2. Exercise Muscle addiction Dysmorphia and 1. Steroid anddoping use Issues4. Ethical 3. Methods Instruments2. 1. Participants ofthe 3. The hypermuscular body: feminine grotesque and queer 2.3. 2.2. The female representation of bodybuilders 2.1. The bodybuilding Femininitya judging as criterion

......

interviews - fitness debatefitness

......

...... Table ofConte ......

......

female bodybuilders’ muscularity iii ......

......

...... nts ......

......

26 69 65 62 52 40 32 67 65 47 40 29 28 28 26 18 14 12

4 1 8 8 4

CEU eTD Collection Theberge by (2003). players hockey with and (2009), Kristiansen and Sisjord by wrestlers with (2007), Menneson and 1 mu a and shoulders, broad Similarly, wrestler. good a being of effect side onlya is it that claiming by women by justified be could ear an such of development the in hidden be must that something in of proud very be to something was wrestlers of ear cauliflower the example, For body. the on inscribed activity the in engagement of sign visible a or type, body difference. important doing are women level some on bodybuilding female of examination male traditionally doing women on some are sports predominantly by occupied women. there and banned, formally is participation women’s where sports less and less contri might achievements bodily measured” “objectively in difference a the Indeed, performance”. establishes and differences reveals systematically diff physical and “Bodies out: (2010). Pfister to according life of areas other in manifest less be might which segregation gender strict a still is there that phenomenon the to due be can sport relevance the addition, In place. first the in sports of domain the enter of achievement huge a be to seen was it beginning, I. Introduction

I would like to recommend the qualitative researches conducted conducted researches qualitative the recommend to like would I bute to bute

To me, since I did judo did I since me, To has Sport the

strengthening of the misogynist attitudes toward women. Nowadays, there is there Nowadays, women. toward attitudes misogynist the of strengthening an activity tha activity an been been

It must be pointed out that most of the sports create a certain kind of of kind certain a create sports the of most that out pointed be must It popular a erences are at the very centre of the sport since sport is a system which system a is sport since sport the of centre very the at are erences

competitively t is considered to be to considered is t

eri for terrain the reports of women (Sisjord and Kristiansen, 2009) Kristiansen, and (Sisjord women of reports - dominated sports is very significant. significant. very is sports dominated

h ivsiain of investigations the for more for 1

masculine. On the other hand, there is an an is there hand, other the On masculine.

s ul o ti taiin bcue these because tradition, this on built is h fmns mvmn ht oe could women that movement feminist the On the other hand as Pfister (2010) points (2010) Pfister as hand other the On

akn bsd n h individuals the on based ranking with the representatives of judo by Guérandel Guérandel by judo of representatives the with than ten years ten than

of examining of

edr researches gender , the growing literature growing the , scular female body is body female scular the case of men, an men, of case

topics related to related topics tik the think I I the In . , but , d - 1 ’

CEU eTD Collection psychology 1980). (Yalom, existential of framework the byapplying competitorbodybuilder the of struggle deathand life gi by thesis my close will I 1991). (Haraway, bodybuilder female the of cyborgiancharacteristics the on elaborate Imachine, power the andbodybuilder female the between hand other the on and mirror, the and bodybuilder female the between use. steroid their legitimize use steroid of the and addiction, exercise and 1993) al., et (Pope dysmorphia acade is in Similarly,bodybuilding marginalization. and stigmatization possible the with coping are they how and women, of experiences the on focus to important it find I bodies. these to react bodybuilders, call so the with connections possible the explore I and body, this of theorization the on focus normal to attempts institutional the of and bodybuilding, ofarena the in occurred women way the of description short a provide I muscular. excessively is who becomesfrom detached their funct do canbody the what of central,instead activity the of aim the is body a such bod ( muscular more onlymuch not is bodybuilder the female contrast, In etc. football or handball, in success achieving of instrument only is it that say can women the but unfeminine, be to seen usually ed

female grotesque 1995). female (Russo, n h eprcl at f y hss y nlzn itriwe I odce with conducted I interviewees analyzing by thesis my of part empirical the In by discussion my start to going am I I look at the way people both inside and outside of the bodybuilder community bodybuilder the of outside and inside both people way the at look I I netgt hw oyules eoit tee oin, and notions, these negotiate bodybuilders how investigate I .

often associated with different kind of pathologies such as muscle muscle as such pathologies of kind different with associated often

fe dsusn te intimate the discussing After ionality. ionality. bcue n oyulig h wy h bd los is looks body the way the bodybuilding in because ,

(Richardson, 2004) (Richardson,

introducing the figure of the female bodybuilder bodybuilder female the of figure the introducing 2

hypermuscular), but the development of development the but hypermuscular), ving a possible interpretation of the the of interpretation possible a ving . So the existence of huge muscles muscles hugeexistence of the So .

relationship supposedly ize these bodies. After that, I that, After bodies. these ize a precondition and the and precondition

unhealthy practice practice unhealthy n h oe hand one the on the way they they way the o the of y mia -

CEU eTD Collection experiences. and in motivations their in hypermuscularitym bodybuilders unnatural or natural, practices. hypermuscular the next chapter.the next n y eerh te em fml bdbidr rfr t wmn h dsr t be to desire who women to refers bodybuilder’ ‘female term the research, my In

I won’t examine more closely the differences differences the closely more examine won’t I

an rahd hs ee o musc of level this reached d

eans and how the female bodybuilder exceeds the norms will will norms the exceeds femalebodybuilder the how and eans

e size le

y en eggd n bodybuilding in engaged being by between

erainl competitive, recreational, be discussedbe What What CEU eTD Collection mentioned. was muscularity of ceilingglass the manytimes that 3 many athletic extremely is who heroine action new the of popularity the out point intended are about exist e fast run rumors cannot who manyhers of bodyguards and magazines, in discussed often is 2 of legitimacy the of problem the to answer accepted currently the embodies which practice masculinity Hegemonic corresponde in changes which femininity of form privileged (1987) Connell of work the to refers femininity.” emphasized of ideologies by but biology by not limited agency bodily their find “may gym the in out working women many glass “the term the uses the experi red to suggested usually is exercise physical women. and men between mascu with associated is muscularity because being on put is well healthy, muscular, relatively be must it but thin, be to body femaleperfect the to enough not is it recentlythat claims she when further step goesone self to connected was which body thinner a to available not was food enough when times in wealth symbolize to used female of development the and muscularity of ceiling bodybuilding glass The 1. II.

The example of Madonna can be mentioned who despite her age is in a very good shape. Her training schedule schedule training Her shape. good very a in is age her despite who mentioned be can Madonna of example The Of course, some other explanations also occurred such as functional reasons, or some women simply thought simply women some or reasons, functional as such occurred also explanations other some course, Of

being muscular is not necessary. But the amount of these arguments these of amount the But necessary. not is muscular being glass ceiling many women have to face in male in face to have women many ceiling glass The figurebodybuilder female the of ,

such as LaraCroft. as such ence a line of muscularity that muscularity of line a ence The shift of the female beauty ideal over time from a well a from time over ideal beauty female the of shift The

to demonstrate her bodily achievements and dancing skills, as well. In addition, I would like to to like would I addition, In well. as skills, dancing and achievements bodily her demonstrate to

relatively

ceiling of muscularity” to describe to muscularity” of ceiling s eie b Cnel s ( as Connell by defined is

Training muscular. -

icpie cnrl and control discipline, nough beside her when she goes to her daily jogging. Her Her jogging. daily her to goes she when her beside nough has beco has

they should not should they hi rus ht fema that argues Choi h apid h tr t conceptualize to term the applied who uce body size, not to increase it. it. increase to not size, body uce me a desirable lifestyle choice for women, but but women, for choice lifestyle desirable a me 4 3

iiy n sre t sg visible sign to serves and linity (333)

- 95 77): 1995, dominated professions, Dworkin (2001) (2001) Dworkin professions, dominated ucs i wdl known. widely is success The cross. Parallelly to the the to Parallelly cross. e big i. t s ad that said is It fit. being her

- expression emphasized femininity emphasized expression toned and fit. and toned nce with hegemonic masculinity hegemonic with nce this reported line. She states that states She line. reported this was e uclrt i sil rejected, still is muscularity le

and thought to be very attractive by by attractive very be to thought and te ofgrto o gender of configuration “the

- relativ rounded, larger body which body larger rounded, ely smal ely 2

The emphasis here emphasis The So women often often women So l phenomenon of of phenomenon

compared to how to compared

s hi ( Choi

h differences differences e fires those those fires e

h most the video clips clips video 2003) 2003) .

CEU eTD Collection identified with. to want not do they what muscularity of limit upper the clear make to respondents the by evoked frequently was bodybuilder female the al is advertisements (341) lifted.” weight the of on back’ amount ‘hold to and room, weight the in spent time or days of number the of terms off ‘back to time, of period a for weights lifting’ ‘stop to weights, increasing of instead sets weight across same’ the weight the ‘keep to were practices strategic “these summarizes musculature. mass. muscle their increase to want not did they simultaneously but strength, muscular for desire expressed them of Some feminine. as work cardiovascular and masculine, as work weight considered women hundred a than more with interviews men of interests is muscularity (184) femininity’. accommodating to oriented for “One the is men” among masculinity hegemonic by held position the women among subordinatio overall the of context the in constructed are society this in femininity of forms “All writes: (1987) group. a as women subordination of Hegemoni women.” the and men of position dominant the guarantee) to taken is (or guarantees which patriarchy, notion [f eiiiy i dfnd rud opine ih hs uodnto ad is and subordination this with compliance around defined is femininity] [of m

hy sd ifrn tcnqe t peet rwn i sz. s h author the As size. in growing prevent to techniques different used They f mhszd femininity emphasized of hs wmn fe cekd hi bde fr h signs the for bodies their checked often women These

o biologically not ” I mas ht n h cs o te ls ciig f uclrt, women’ muscularity, of ceiling glass the of case the in that means It .

eae t a es uclr eae body. female muscular less a to related tered to “Just hold back” as back” hold “Just to tered n of women to men. For this reason, there is no femininity that holds holds that femininity no is there reason, this For men. to women of n In contrast, we cannot talk about hegemonic femininity. As Connell Connell As femininity. hegemonic about talk cannot we contrast, In h itrss n dsrs f e. wl cl ti ‘emphasized this call will I men. of desires and interests the limited So the message of “Just do it” used by many Nike Nike many by used it” do “Just of message the So c masculinity serves men’s overc domination masculinity tolegitimize , instead , Connell . 5

Dworkin suggests. Dworkin bu ter riig ln. h inte The plans. training their about they want to accommodate the accommodate to want they

prah n wa te could they what and approach (1987)

rvds h floig definition following the provides wri cnutd in conducted Dworkin Interestingly, .

(187) Instead, there Instead, (187) f xes n their in excess of “ the figure of of figure the desires desires never never rviewees - depth depth ’ in ’ and be be s :

CEU eTD Collection inchapter. this 4 al is competition disgusting, responses w many (1998) Lowe TV. to on According live followed be could that competition bodybuilding female first the was and which Angeles, Los in held was contest Olympia Ms. the when year the 1991: in happened bodybuilding. in participation their about concerns more appeared there mass, muscle increased more a possess to started bodybuilders self of statement grand a in empowermen heels their off kicking women with began bodybuilding front perform and Olympia Ms. later Dunlap Carla because bodybuilding, female of history the in moment noteworthy high in the fitness a time. present competitor ofour of body the more resembled they big, so not were bodybuilders female of wave LaSpina Gina winner official first the where competition bodybuilding first the year this and McGhee, Henry States United the 1977 In bodybuilding. female a such female legislation action affirmative and sport, feminist women’s a herself (1998), Heywood bodybuilder, bodybuilding. female of development

The conceptualization of bodybuilding as a sport is still highly debated; I will further elaborate on the question question the on elaborate further will I debated; highly still is sport a as bodybuilding of conceptualization The World” competition World” The amount of accepted female muscularity has always has muscularity female accepted of amount The - heel shoes and not to flex their muscles lest they will be unfeminine. unfeminine. be will they lest muscles their flex to not and shoes heel

among

and they and

ad claim and t discusses so famous for famous so

- , started a mass rebellion and encouraged and rebellion mass a started , t double biceps poses on stage. As Heywood writes (1998, 28): “Women’s 28): (1998, writes Heywood As stage. on poses biceps double lvso viewers elevision

id not hesitate to express these express to hesitate not id

ht h wmns li women’s the that mode ing

o opt a ra ahee i a el sport”. real a in athletes real as compete to

led on beauty pageants pageants beauty on led

the failure of Bev Francis (starring in the film Pumping IronII: Pumping film the (starringin Francis Bev failureof the Two years later, in 1979 George Snyder promoted the “Best in the“Best Snyder promoted 1979George years in later, Two o who e wr bg ct ad ipd w ripped and cut, big, were men

The peak of these tendencies and the turning point point turning the and tendencies these of peak The on tee ois icnetn, repulsive, disconcerting, bodies these found eain oeet te increasing the movement, beration

6 was celebrated. It must be added that the first the that added be must It celebrated. was

oe’ Ascain a etbihd by established was Association Women’s

opinions in various letters and calls. Th calls. and letters various in opinions where bodybuilders were asked were bodybuilders where s Title IX led to the occurrence of of occurrence the to led IX Title s all women to kick off their shoes shoes their off kick to women all

been a central question in the in question central a been was also organized in Ohio in organized also was hat 4

ae, s female as Later, e t negative to led

popularity of of popularity hs a a was This - Kaan, the the Kaan, to

even pose pose is - CEU eTD Collection members.” its and the sport future of and present, thepast, utter and completely so family single a which in sport another discover to impossible gathered 5 competitions. the in criterion judging a as femininity of formalization the 3) forums media bodybuilder 2) categories ‘Fitness’ the ‘Fi the of creation the 1) federation: the from responses institutional main three to led which judges, the and spectators the among panic moral a caused woman hypermuscular the durable strategyflexible and social control”. of amazingly an as acknowledged be to body….has female the of normalization and discipline 166 (1993, writes Bordo Susan what of example good a as mentioned be can competitors female of size body the restricting of the to her of end the practically caused which brothers Weider obscenities shouted and disappointment her handle not could muscular extremely bodybuilders. the among muscular blond long, and eyes blue as such femininity traditional of place topsix. inthe later year type. feminine more a to back move to Bodybuilding of Federation women unusual Her points. seven leading after lost who and muscular extremely was who Women) The

h laesi o bdbidn i bodybuilding of leadership The rankings of the participants. According to Boyle (2005), the gender norm violating violating norm gender the (2005), Boyle to According participants. the of rankings That

The attempt to normalize the body of the female bodybuilder manifested not only in only not manifested bodybuilder female the of body the normalize to attempt The in the hands of Joe and Ben Weider. As Lowe (1998, 67) claims: “Indeed, it would be virtually virtually be would it “Indeed, claims: 67) (1998, Lowe As Weider. Ben and Joe of hands the in were : in a sport where the aim is to build muscle the most muscular women did not even even not did women muscular most the muscle build to is aim the where sport a in : intention can explain explain can intention

n re t udrtn te ifcl stain f fema of situation difficult the understand to order In o mreal ayoe n fclttd h laes f h International the of leaders the facilitated and anymore marketable not The judgesan chose ex

defeat h dlmtto o fml cmeios rm h significant the from competitors female of delimitation the

t n e S ad n h woe ol was world whole the in and USA he

the happenings of happenings the and the reactio the and al Brusa wo a tuy ymtia and symmetrical truly was who Bircumshaw Paula cts ewo, 1998 Heywood, cites , - fitness 7

ns of the viewers meant that meant viewers the of ns - show the Ms. International champio International Ms. the

bodybuilding career. bodybuilding competitor, who performedcompetitor, who

hair and who was one of the least least the of one was who and hair - looking, smaller bodybuilder smaller looking, ): “Viewed historically, the the historically, “Viewed ):

highly e oyulig n to and bodybuilding le the first two first the ly controls and dominates dominates and controls ly

centralized, most power power most centralized, 5

These attempts These ‘too muscu ‘too

round nship gure’ and and gure’

the signs

s one one lar’

by by CEU eTD Collection her and woman fitness The bodybuilder. female the of image counter a becomes normaliza diversity claimed The ‘inclusive’.” more make disturb, question, help to used bodybuilding female that femininity includin actually is he what that is obscures diversity of language Weider’s “What out: points she when 44) (1998, Heywood women. talented less genetically include purpose the that suggests rhetoric this sense, this In category. bodybuilding the in compete to muscles enough grow to possible it make common geneticallygifted women.” ( more muscular, more look than the following: streamlined more leaner, a present who the women those involve to] intention the has Federation states magnate bodybuilding the which in Flex, female of to alternative an as genreSep the in published Weiner Joe with interview an fitness cites She bodybuilding. of creation the discusses (1998) Heywood bodybuilding championships bodybuilding predominantly the bodybuilding 2.1. The 2. Institutionalized attempts tonormalize female bodybuilders’ muscularity elaborate issues. onthese further to like would I background, the in operation in are processes what of ideas provide According to According

- nrae mda ersnain and representation media increased held opinion that fitness competition is primarily for those whose genetics do not do genetics whose those for primarily is competition fitness that opinion held tion aimed at the female bodybuilder’s body. bodybuilder’s female the at aimed tion hair : - tl, ail euy caim, kn odto ad hr ae evaluated. are charm and condition skin charisma, beauty, facial style, ae audience male Choi (2003) (2003) Choi of of -

bodies who can participate in competitions in participate can who bodies fitness debate The . g in the repertoire of female bodybuilding is the conventional conventional the is bodybuilding female of repertoire the in g historically

fitness n h bek bten w psn rounds posing two between breaks the in

aeoy s lsr o bat contest beauty a to closer is category hnig rm dfeet angle, different a from Thinking women’s women’s 8

oa spot oh ihn h bodybuilder the within both support moral f h ceto o te ins ctgr i to is category fitness the of creation the of fitness

The figure of the fitness competitor fitness the of figure The

show 44) This argument reflects the reflectsargument the This 44)

was intended to entertain to intended was

obscures the process of of process the obscures “[The Bodybuilding Bodybuilding “[The is more marketable, more is tember 1994 issue issue 1994 tember I agree with with agree I

of male male of hn to than

CEU eTD Collection chapter. next in the mydiscussion of topic the is which criterion judging a as femininity of formalization the of part a as rulebook, the in included middle western heterosexual, white, 7 the of viewpoint feminine. ofthe characteristics the to referring synonyms 6 identities: (1990)expresses Butler t feminineand body. the ofthe notions masculine our reconstruct continuously should we that mean might women these of existence the then constructed, socially already was body sexed the thought she that and (1990) Butler Judith of I aboutthe work Furthermore,signs beif connected think thattomasculinity. traditionally can muscularity of ceiling glass the transcend they that in subversive foundations. biological most its at patriarchy to resistance threatening direct, a is bodybuilding “female Muscle’: cite 71, (1990, Schultze Laurie As women. as build bigbut to muscles aspossible. ideal this approach to never was aim the because unfair, dismiss run?” to wants the person fast average how reflect sprint 100m the for record world the does question: the as irrelevant o male bodybuilder, body feminine bodybuild female that bodybuilding female in point the never but true, be might this course, Of ideal. feminine dominant the to closer is she that statement bythe legitimized is it of outside and community

In my work I use expressions such as normative, dominant, emphasized, conventional, traditional femininity as as femininity traditional conventional, emphasized, dominant, normative, as such expressions use I work my In Indeed Indeed n otat o fitness, to contrast In ing bodybuilding because it does not reflect the dominant feminine ideal seems to be be to seems ideal feminine dominant the reflect not does it because bodybuilding ing the definition of the goal of female bodybuilding as to find an ideal female physique became later later became physique female ideal an find to as bodybuilding female of goal the of definition the

is irrelevant is fml, elcs o te vrg ml o fml wns o ok s as is look to wants female or male average the how reflects female, r

ing is a sport, then sport, a is ing A I nesad hs utto, hs hpruclr oe are women hypermuscular these quotation, this understand I As ”

. As Choi (2003, 78) formulates: “whether the musculature of the the of musculature the “whether formulates: 78) (2003, Choi As .

t i a his o ins ad oyulig r to ifrn gne, and genres, different two are bodybuilding and fitness So tvt cn rae nw agae f paig about speaking of language new a create can ctivity 7

. I .

measuring the distance of these of distance the measuring f

we put our doubts aside for a moment and believe and moment a for aside doubts our put we s

Richardson, 2008) writes in her essay ‘On the the ‘On essay her in writes 2008) Richardson, 9

reflecting the dominant feminine ideal feminine dominant the reflecting

( this is the goal of the fitness genre fitness the of goal the is this

(Dworkin, 2001) (Dworkin, - class in determining the the determining in class

bodies from an ideal an from bodies he fluidity of gender gender of fluidity he

and display display and

was was ) 6 ,

CEU eTD Collection these that was contradiction bodybuilde The sport. entire the to danger a meant ones unnatural that thought identity gender normative disrupt not do who bodybuilders ‘Natural’ heterosexuality. c and effects, side its from suffered and drugs used who far, too went who ones the were bodybuilders ‘Unnatural’ bodies. own their and activity own their of normality the justify to bodybuilders these out, turned it As 2002. of fall the in Vancouver in bodybuilders 6 with interviews made Boyle sport. their within women these that become toomuch is anxieties the of object the indeed case this in that claims He sports. female other in doping of consequences the over than greater, much is them over concern athl the of health the to risks mean really not do effects side these out points (2007) Schippert as Though bottom”. bikini scanty a through protruding from it prevent to body her to it tape must competitors] [the she some in Lewis that mentions jaws. (2004) of angularity the hair, body of growth the voice, the of lowering the effects: side serious to lead can that steroids anabolic using by tissues muscle of growth the facilitate imitative the “reveal both can (137). they gender” of structure that sense the in artist drag the to compared be can forces discourses regulatory by influenced is gender of performativity The would be revealeda asregulatoryfiction.” (141). identity gender true a of postulation the and gender, of acts distorted or real false, or shows body a there measured; be might attribute or act an which by identity which preexisting no is in there then ways performative, are various signification, cultural its the produces acts, and attributes gender “If of the International Federation of Bodybuilding. of Federation International the of n h ohr ad bdbidr oe tesle ngtae omtv femininity normative negotiate themselves women bodybuilder hand, other the On rs also wanted to be bigger. A different kind of ‘Other’ was also mentioned in theirin mentioned ‘Other’alsowas of kind bigger.be different to A wanted also rs nue bnr opstos uh s masculinity as such oppositions binary onfused

like men, andgender thetraditional disturb like division. men, In addition to being extremely muscular, these women these muscular, extremely being to addition In (rare) ete (others are of course dangerous to their health), but the the but health), their to dangerous course of are (others ete

participants used the rhetoric of ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’ ‘unnatural’ and ‘natural’ of rhetoric the used participants cases “the facial hai facial “the cases 10

I argue that the female bodybuilder female the that argue I r and the clitoris is so enlarged that enlarged so is clitoris the and r would be no true or or true no be would

uh s h regulatory the as such - eiiiy homo femininity, c an further further an - - - CEU eTD Collection 8 $6 that admit Olympia $60,000 Figure: Ms. Mr. and Fitness Ms. Olympia, way: following the in developed moneys prize total the event the of name (the Weekend Olympia Mr. the at and fitness. female figure bodybuilding, of categories the between is alsodivided of theentire female bodybuilding. sportof t threat a means indeed fitness of popularity growing The fitness. of its category reveals also but femininity, missing is think I which potential subversive a has and nature normative constructed reproduces only not bodybuilding female magazines. images these perform and woman i successful become to them for way possible only The sidelined. still are bodybuilders black naturally the while white originally of darkness the in results skin the tanning of tradition illum (2007) Schippert bodybuilder. female the of notion the influences also race course, Of event. family nice a as it conceptualized women some indeed competition, bodybuilding a of context the in even appears respectability middle of boundaries the exceed they if immoral or classless, cheap, as stigmatized being risk they images, magazine and routines posing their in appeal (hetero)sexual of amount certain a exude to expected tacitly are athletes “Al (2005): writes Boyle As penalty. risked and classes lower from come to thought were They way. sexual overtly an in pose who women bodybuilder, stripper the interviews:

S ource: http://www.getbig.com/headlines/2011/04/17/2011 ource: o u u, n this in up, sum To

,0 cn seem can 0,000 s to use the rather racist stereotypes of the ani the of stereotypes racist rather the use to s

ucatr wne t da atnin o h peoeo that phenomenon the to attention draw to wanted I subchapter

o be to

n hi rpeettos n infcn bodybuilding significant in representations their in ver - ls sxa morality. sexual class much y The originally lower prize money for a competition prize a money originally lower for The nts n important an inates 11

$60,000

- mr money is also telling) in 2011 in telling) also is - olympia

at $60,000; Ms. Bikini Ms. $60,000; -

weekend is gac, u bodybui but glance, first (145 ”

aao i hr article. her in paradox malistic and exotic black black exotic and malistic - prize - 4) S middle So 146). - skinned competitors, competitors, skinned - money/ more or less or more the distribution of distribution the -

6000 Ms. $600,000; existence the o

- For example

$20,000. though though

in the the in - lding lding class The The 8

I CEU eTD Collection a Olympians female of occurrence media the examined Ildikó dissertation a findingsher in included Gál Gáldiné Hungary In (1999). Jackson Cross Embser and Buysse and (2003); Cookey and Duncan Urquhart Messner, (2000); Kennedy (2010); Pfister to refer please 9 bodybuilde it female dressing the by of eroticized body the seen: be can logic opposite an here sports, the other or produced, accidentally are muscles g their natural a of manifestations that impression the get to usually is message The gym. the at rarely home, at or nature, in usually depicted are They appearances. way. (631). community.” of this femininity choice for breasts marker states: arein “Convincing ornot, the shaped ‘naturally’ have also it course, Of competition. the of day the for dehydrated br a process of Bodybuilding casegender offstage. isthebreastmeans implants. Onetheir recognition special hyper of signs bodybuilders offemale 2.2. Therepresentation appearances in order able tobe financeexpenses. these serio a to such able be to in years five participate least at for training been usually have competitors the and use, costs enormous involves

The media representation of female athletes has been widely researched and discussed. For further information, information, further For discussed. and researched widely been has athletes female of representation media The 9

atn (2001) Patton Those who are considered feminine enough get represented, usually in a sexualized sexualized a in usually represented, get enough feminine considered are who Those n re t b photographed be to order In - utal training, disciplined nutrition, and losing all the possible fat cells and being and being cells fat possible all the andlosing nutrition, disciplined utal training, femininity. Long, dyed hair, makeup, high makeup, hair, dyed Long, femininity.

ons u te pca characteristics special the out points

bigger that

up. ift and genetics, and ift

must be paid for paid be must s competition. us

As Richardson (2008) argues quite often the image of the the of image the often quite argues (2008) Richardson As (2007). (2007). rat, nta te ue lsi srey As surgery. plastic use they instead breasts,

in magazines, bodybuilder women have to display the the display to have women bodybuilder magazines, in

a (99; ilns 20) Coly n Ts (2007); Teso and Crolley (2008); Billings (1999); man

12 rather than rather

vitamins, nutrition supplements, lotions, gym lotions, supplements, nutrition vitamins,

eae oyules ut ban media obtain must bodybuilders Female

hard work. work. hard

heeled shoes, and miniskirts foster miniskirts and shoes, heeled

f eae oyules media bodybuilders’ female of implies implies - Herbert (2004); Jones, Murrel and Murrel Jones, (2004); Herbert In contrast to women in women to contrast In that these women can’t can’t women these that Lewis (2004) (2004) Lewis is r nd -

CEU eTD Collection fu For muscles”. phallic her remove may furs who and whip dominatrix shoes, the “Unlike 295): (2008, Richardson to according dominatrix a from includ not usually is act (sexual service this for pays who worshipper muscle the priva a in poses her displays and muscles her flexes and dominatrix, a as dressed usually is woman 10 system scoring the of objectivity bodybuilding. of side de the whereas serve context competition the of outside bodies these of sexualization The eroticized becomes therefore and clothes, representat media the in whereas, naked, more though body. builtthe of qualities ‘objectively’measurethe moreand anatomist an eyethe of bodywith the de to aims bodybuilder female the ornamentation of body uncovered and the contextualize props of use the of prohibition The Bodybuilding 44): 2009Edition, (Rulebook, situa this hand, other the On spectators. male many of front in naked almost is she competition the at u her of fantasy his recover “to enabled is spectator male evoked. is dominatrix

Muscle worship is a kind of fetish used by female bodybuilders to earn extra money. Here, the bodybuilder bodybuilder the Here, money. extra earn to bodybuilders female by used fetish of kind a is worship Muscle distractingwhic colour - “2. Female competitors 5. Except for a wedding ring, competitors will not wear footwear, glasses, glasses, footwear, wear ornamentation thefigure. aidsto or artificial not will pendants, competitors bangles, ring, watches, wedding a for Except 5. G 3. […] prohibited. padding is anywherebikini inthe n may lamé, materials, silver or Metallic gold ornamentation. as such attached no with plain, be will bikini the of fastenings The maximus. gluteus the of half least at cover must bottom bikini The hs n h cnet f h caposi, h fml bdbidr s es sexualized, less is bodybuilder female the championship, the of context the in Thus

n h frt on, h fml cmeios il er iii o a oi, non solid, a of bikinis wear will competitors female the round, first the In tion of ‘nudity’ is strictly controlled by the rules of the International Federation of of Federation International the of rules the by controlled strictly is ‘nudity’ of tion rther information I would I information rther - - strings are strictlyprohibited.[…] sexualization of the of sexualization

a nd cease being the all the being cease nd

10 As I would like to demonstrate in the next part of my work, the the work, my of part next the in demonstrate to like would I As

By redress By h must conform to accepted standards of taste and decency. decency. and taste ofacceptedstandards to conform must h

ing the female bodybuilder, Patton (2001) claims that the that claims (2001) Patton bodybuilder, female the ing recommend the above recommend

body at championships is intended to enhance the sport the enhance to intended is championships at body - necklaces, bracelets, earrings, wigs, distracting distracting wigs, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, powerful hc wud e n motn peodto t call to precondition important an be would which ot be ot

y vkn ml fnais bu udesn her. undressing about fantasies male evoking by

13 huge her remove cannot bodybuilder female the mistress, used to make up the bikini. The use of of use The bikini. the up make to used

- mentioned author. author. mentioned ndressing for him alone” (127), since since (127), alone” him for ndressing os poorps se er more wears she photographs, ions, in order to faci to order in ed). Female bodybuilders differ bodybuilders Female ed).

- s eulz ad de and sexualize

to enhance profit, enhance to litate te situation to to situation te looking - at -

CEU eTD Collection reinforced. are differences gender of expression the thus demands, these meet to desire the to connected be can them displaying 11 male Whereas lyrics. or poses, glances, seductive incorporate may them of Some songs. movement balletic almost style. posing the and selection music the in (1998) Lowe describedgender by differences tothe connected bemannercan graceful a their body in round”. muscularity the in first in come not do muscular most the judges of panel middle and heterosexual, male, white, majority, a of satisfaction “the upon is dependent achievement their of evaluation the because women, bodybuilder to frustration criteria scoring the makes femininity on put emphasis The 48)says:IFBB(2009 Edition, Rulebook seen be criterion asajudging 2.3. Femininity offemaledebated inthesubculture bodybuilding. a bodybuilding

f ore I o o age ht hs gne dfeecs r cetd y h rls them rules the by created are differences gender these that argue not do I course, Of egt Cmeios hl as b asse o wehr r o te carry they not or whether onstage.” on assessed be t also shall of loss Competitors extreme from resulting weight. emaciation with confused be not must muscles woman’s a of Definition such physique. male the of muscularity massive the resembles carried be not must development muscular but women’s physique, male the a assessing for described those to is similar are aspects other The this that shape is aspect mind important most the in Therefore, bear must that judge and competition, bodybuilding the foremost, and First “ esle i a rcfl anr hl wlig o n fo ter position their from and to walking while manner graceful a in hemselves 28.3. Assessing Female Physique: the According to Boyle ( Boyle to According as another another as

” (Boyle, 2005, 143). 2005, (Boyle, ”

sport attempt to normalize women’s muscularity and sport participation. As the As participation. sport and muscularity women’s normalize to attempt

n te qu the and s sie more, smile , 2005) the formalization of femininity as a judging criterion can can criterion judging a as femininity of formalization the 2005)

estion of which qualities should be focused on is highly highly is on focused be should qualities which of estion As Lowe (1998, 90) reports “people who are obviously obviously are who “people reports 90) (1998, Lowe As

the goal is to find an ideal female physique. physique. female ideal an find to is goal the and

14 tend

o hs mr pplr n sentimental and popular more chose to

- Female bodybuilders apply bodybuilders Female

a muscular yet feminine shape. shape. feminine yet muscular a more subjective. It means a huge huge a means It subjective. more

o such to The expectation of carrying carrying of expectation The n xes ht it that excess an selves, but I think think I but selves,

more fluid, more totally - cl ass ass CEU eTD Collection vascular and muscular most the of one considered w mayperformedeither is be and poses It bodies. upper the in muscles and pectorals, trapezins, 12 bodybuildinga by asstabilized men’s definingis spectacle “masculine that arguestheory. She dom more is side sport the bodybuilding, male considering whereas edge, spectacle the toward develops dimension 120). (2001, spectacle” part and sport “part a is looks (Richardson,200 it how but do, can body the what not is counts what end the in exercise, physical tough of elements the contains it although that is bodybuilding of peculiarity The problem. ethical an as judging of issue unfair”. incomprehensibly is the division women’s for criteria judging clear set to refusal the sport, a is bodybuilding that believe we “if states: she when 119) (2001, Patton with agree I difficult. rather competition a for preparation judges. male many of minds the in competitors: remove to surgery plastic to turn bodybuilders gynecomastia male many Furthermore, possess tanned. bodybuilders male and 2004), conventionall (Richardson, position feminine traditionally that phenomenon the of spite in granted criteria, judging a as included not is Masculinity supported. is neat and symmetrical muscular, big, freaky, being masculine. and powerful too be to thought are they because round, posing crab the as such poses some exist There manner. distinct more harder, a in move and music, rock for pose usually bodybuilders

Lowe (1998, 190) offers a clear description of the crab the of description clear a offers 190) (1998, Lowe On the oth the On they must be neat, lean, muscular, but not too muscular, feminine, and attractive and feminine, muscular, too not but muscular, lean, neat, be must they y feminine characteristics such as hairlessness, using body lotion and being sun being and lotion body using hairlessness, as such characteristics feminine y , the development of largea, thedevelopment result as breasts ofexcessive use. steroid er hand, female bodybuilders must face multiple demands to be successful be to demands multiple face must bodybuilders female hand, er because the association between muscularity and masculinity is taken for for taken is masculinity and muscularity between association the because

inant. According to Patton (2001) it can be explained by spectatorship spectatorship by explained be can it (2001) Patton to According inant.

ith teeth clenched or with an accompanying growl.” with an accompanying or clenched teeth ith 12 The subjective nature subjective The

which are hardly ever displayed by women in the free the in women by displayed ever hardly are which 4). the body being on display is considered to be a a be to considered is display on being body the So to use Cindy Patton’s expression, this activity this expression, Cindyuse Patton’s to So 15 -

She uses spectat uses She pose: “The crab allows bodybuilders to show off their their off show to bodybuilders allows crab “The pose: n h cs o fml bdbidr this bodybuilders female of case the In

of the scoring the of orship theory to examine the examine to theory orship

system

So among males among So

makes thei makes

r - CEU eTD Collection 452). 2007, (Linder, bodyshape” particular 14 watching. of thecomponent sexual decrease 13 poin scoring the of 85% within score must they competence, their prove explains, (1998) for space much too leave not does system the However, competitions. wo judges female more and more are there Indeed, changed? be cannot criteria these relevant. be to seems sports other with analogy we conceptualize unfeminine”. become they lest jump can jumpers high women the height the or run can runners women which atspeed the belimiting would situation similar enough.feminineA not f competitive the can, one muscles biggest the build to is aim the where sport a “In considering: worth is 73) (2003, Choi of note CongressBrugge,Belgium”, doesnotreflect in system I thescoring recognition. this the think states: clearly 40) spor a Edition, as recognized officially (2009 was Bodybuilding “Women’s Rulebook IFBB the Although contradiction. inner heterosexual status. are they women that worried bodies. these watching for justification a as needed less is it” enter who women the for desire with blurred is sport the of love the bodybuilding, women’s in contrast, “By bodybuilder male the at looks spectator male the as addition, In (124) them.” judge I because but men, these desire I because looking not “I’m bodies: male uncovered at looking while responses homoerotic possibil the avoid to justification following the use can spectator male The (123). sport”

Although, Although, In the language of bodybuilders, “the aesthe “the bodybuilders, of language the In busier as I discussed in the previous subchapter, there are attempts manifested in strict rules of nudity to to nudity of rules strict in manifested attempts are there subchapter, previous the in discussed I as

in orde in bodybuilding as a sport, as the federation does, then this critique built onthe built critique thenthis does, federation as the a sport, asbodybuilding ih adig hi on oortc tendencies homoerotic own their handling with

viewing . (124) .

Female bodybuilding, “half sport and half spectacle” half and sport “half bodybuilding, Female he realizes that he himself can also be the o the be also can himself he that realizes he r to achieve this qualification this achieve to r

Here the heterosexuality the Here

female bodybuilders take erotic pleasure in it, but Patton claims Patton but it, in pleasure erotic take bodybuilders female

emale bodybuilder can be penalized for being too big too being for penalized be can bodybuilder emale

tic of bigness combines muscle mass, muscle definition, and a a and definition, muscle mass, muscle combines bigness of tic 16

At this point the question might arise: why why arise: might question the point this At of the spectacle is intensified is spectacle the of , future judges must take an exam an take must judges future ,

Of course, male judges could be could judges male course, Of dsiln b te 92 IFBB 1982 the by discipline t bject of a homoerotic look. homoerotic a of bject

and to protect their their protect to and hne A Lowe As change.

ts given by other other by given ts (120)

suffers this this suffers 13 :

rking in rking judging 14

ity of of ity So if So . T .

and o CEU eTD Collection the of notion femalegrotesque. the to belongingness possible her and embodiment queer a as bodybuilder explorationthe topic: next the of discussion the to me leads This ‘naturalorder’. available readily the in localized be hardly can and boundaries, gender up bodybuilder categories of creation look sophisticated more judgmen a also is it taste, observation. of object p that beauty’ ‘free K the to evaluation of kind this connect They others”. like among process social subcultural a of part a as learnt be must it for ‘taste’ the 104 and Javerlhiac Monaghan, Roussel, as skill, learnt a is them in beauty see outsiders. by such body the examining of dimensions The achieved. never but approximated be can course of which audiences. comp female in type body preferred the of fluctuation The givenscores. the on depending removed easily be can card membership their and leadership) top the to person contact (the judge head a by checked continuously 2) maintained majority the of will the of paradigm panel. the in judges ) argue: “Of course an course “Of argue: Although

as vascularity, symmetry, striations are relatively unknown or not consciously used consciouslyused not or unknown relativelyare striations symmetry, vascularity, as

and makes this body less irrational. Otherwise this body can be seen as messing messing as seen be can body this Otherwise irrational. less body this makes and So there is an underlying concept when these bodies are evaluated, the ability to to ability the evaluated, are bodies these when concept underlying an is there So the once established judging trends can trends judging established once the the judging criteria can be criticized, they refer to an ideal bodybuilder body bodybuilder ideal an to refer they criticized, be can criteria judging the

resupposes no concept that would serve as a base for the appraisal of the of appraisal the for base a as serve would that concept no resupposes

These homogenizing tendencies can serve t serve can tendencies homogenizing These In their interpretation “adherent beauty is no longer a mere judgment of of judgment mere a longer no is beauty“adherent interpretation their In brings a sense of order in in order of sense a brings functioning through given categories of exploration. exploration. of categories given through functioning t of value.” (105) value.” of t

athlete’s first muscular bulges do not appear instantaneously and and instantaneously appear not do bulges muscular first athlete’s , some objectivity, or at least the pretense of it can be can it of pretense the least at or objectivity, some , ttos a as idct a itnin o trc wider attract to intention an indicate also can etitions So the members of the community developed a a developed community the of members the So 17

the antian ‘adherent beauty’ as opposed to to opposed as beauty’ ‘adherent antian

evaluati hardly be altered. Besides, judges are judges Besides, altered. be hardly on w

o purpose o of h bd o te female the of body the s LeYondre (2010 LeYondre : 1) by using the using by 1) : concepts of the female the of I think this this think I - minded minded f the of , CEU eTD Collection (wrestling). sports contact of case the in as such practices of or room, locker often the as such locations is of content homoerotic the sports of sexuality the nonsexual; deny to order in or displayed mustbe homophobia think I recognized”. asexual be to it allow not does homophobia because as mythology cultural in presented is even it arena, sexualized though highly a are sports that is sports and sexuality about silence the of irony The deafening. hom surrounding silence “The to: attention calls 209) (2009, Atkinson As male in especially sport, in homophobia of prevalence high the on discussion the is it sure, for know cannot we not, or 15 achieved. fully be never can which (127) identity” heterosexual of ideal “phantasmatic the He exists. origin no which for imitations, of results and copies, indeed are identities gender all because illusionary, merely is originality for claim the that argues Butler l and gay whereas identity, true the and authentic the original, the as up itself sets It itself. naturalizes heterosexuality ways the illuminated (2004) Butler Judith how to compared be can argument a enacting qu into are puts and disputes which pastiche they rather copy; they which original the with sympathy thereby some and sustaining bodybuilders, male parodying much so not are bodybuilders “Women here. men. of copies poor ag great the in am I and Jagodzinski, to According masculinity, imitate to want simply just bodybuilders female (24) possible.” as erection giant a much as look to words rock physique the oiled, and tanned well be must skin the possible; as muscle tumescent much as display to tries bodybuilder author. the of interpretation are judges Male spectator. male the of gaze homophobic the from body this hide to is up dressing this of purpose the arguesthat (2003) Jagodzinski it, eroticize and contextualize to contributes 3.

Of course, whether male judges (whose group consists almost solely of former competitors) are homophobic homophobic are competitors) former of solely almost consists group (whose judges male whether course, Of The homophobic hl Pto (2001) Patton While hypermuscular feminine body: queer and grotesque esbian identities are seen to be imitations, derivative and secondary bad copies. copies. bad secondary and derivative imitations, be to seen are identities esbian

15 , and the female bodybuilder’s bodybuilder’s female the and ,

claims claims s e rts “e ol cl ti te pnl pm’ s the as pump’ ‘penile the this call could “We writes: he As

interpretation of Jagodzinski, which seems to be supported by the huge huge the by supported be to seems which Jagodzinski, of interpretation - ht rsig p h bd o te eae bodybuild female the of body the up dressing that ad soig striat showing hard, estion the very possibility of an ‘original’”. an of possibility very the estion 18 reement with him, there is much more at stake at more much is there him, with reement

oy eid the reminds body ions and bulging veins veins bulging and ions Then the question arises whether whether arises question the Then osexuality and bisexuality in sports is sports in bisexuality and osexuality - dominated areas in the literature. literature. the in areas dominated o a hlu i the in phallus a of m

terosexuals imitate terosexuals –

(25)

n other in

denied denied This So So er er - CEU eTD Collection As Richardson ( continues bodybuilder female the does what But normalization. against stand (xxvii). behavior” normal of idea the but social the of behavior normal the just not protesting as understood be “can cut of way “a only would whatbe.” planet’s would the environment to goodrelationa what or definefairness, or entails, ‘health’ what or for, is state the what or means, difference gender articulat less or more able, being means “[ xiii): (1993, Warner Michel quote to like would I ‘queer’ term the define To gende of ‘building’) literally (quite construction the to attention draws so, doing in hype a with muscles phallic of ideal masculine the both combines it that in ‘queer’ is which body arepresents sport the way the in lies resistance bodybuilding’s Richardson As spectacle. strange a bodybuilder female the of body performances. gender of structure imitative the demonstrates and repeated, man a like look to fails who woman a like “looks bodybuilder female the that is idea whose 61) (1996, Aoki cites compul through constituted, fema and male identities, homosexual and other. each presuppose strongly identities two the origin, without copies are bodybuilders female and bodybuilders male both and origin as itself affirm to derivative achieved. totally be never can which body muscular a perfect of ideal” “phantasmatic the imitating copies are themselves bodybuilders male origin exists”: “no because illusory”, “merely is bodybuilding female against bodybuilding male bodybuildi of case the to back turn to

The combination of masculine and feminine traits and ofmasculine combination The ting against mandatory gender divisions” (xxvi), but most importantly it it importantly most but (xxvi), divisions” gender mandatory against ting who fails to look like a woman”. I think think I woman”. a like look to fails who 297 In my understanding, queer is a way of messing things up, and to to and up, things messing of way a is queer understanding, my In sive and compulsory repetition which can fail. can which repetition compulsory and sive - 298 ):

ng, following this logic I point out that out point I logic this following ng, ely, to challenge the common understanding of what of understanding common the challenge to ely, le

19 oyule iette ae lo performatively also are identities bodybuilder

and the possible failures of these these of failures possible the and

S can make the hermaphroditic make can r ince every origin needs its its needs origin every ince this line could be endlessly be could line this - feminine iconography and, iconographyfeminine

(2008) resist, disrupt or subvert? subvert? or disrupt resist, Just as heterosexual as Just

Ja puts it: “Therefore it: puts

godzinski (2003) godzinski the originality of of originality the So queer is not queeris So Being queer Being r”. (291) r”. ]

CEU eTD Collection grotto materials, Abject body. the of parts excremen visceral the space, inner hidden the to connected grotto the cave, the that argues bec hidden, be must grotto the to refers also it norm, male a from deviance the grotesqueas women destabi is norm male the of exceptionality of point bodybuilders. the female of origin, case an the be in as to reference seems male the is, female the what defining in primary is norm. male the against defined always is female the since tautology, a become to threatens grotesque’ ‘female expression “the that concern her to voice norm. existing locationsis supposedtoreserve). and spaces she t as (such them seamlessness. illusory their questions identities, granted for taken destabilizes continuum sex/gender/sexuality the of disruption glas the cross beau female the to resistance their women, these of empowerment the through expressed is bodybuilder female the of potential subversive the quotation this In but alsoby challenging narrowheteroetics. perception of the by only not continuum sex/gender/sexuality traditional the challenges bodybuilding way Either spectacle. erotic strangely a as or beauty feminine traditional challenging and politics feminist embodying either context, its upon dependent as, “ - esque can refer to a concrete historical event, to an excavation in in excavation an to event, historical concrete a to refer can esque Bodybuilding is surely one of the ‘queerest’ activities within postmodern culture culture postmodern within activities ‘queerest’ the of one surely is Bodybuilding

codn t Mr Rso 19) rtsu i as recognizable also is grotesque (1995) Russo Mary to According that mimic that t, blood, urine is associated with associated is urine blood, t, s ceiling of female muscularity, thus their body size cannot be normalized. be cannot size body their thus muscularity, female of ceiling s In her book book her In e ii o fml msuaiy te rcie se hud e nae i, the in, engaged be should she practices the muscularity, female of limit he

results in the confusion of gender differences. In addition to define female define to addition In differences. gender of confusion the in results ue hy o o eit ihn h fae of frames the within exist not do they ause h Fml Goeqe Rs, xes n Modernity and Excess Risk, Grotesque: Female The - esque can be can esque

Th the flexing female bodybuilder may be read as as read be may bodybuilder female flexing the e queer activity involves queering norms, exceeding norms, queering involves activity queer e

the female. On the other hand, etymologically the the etymologically hand, other the On female. the

lized through the imitation of these norms by by norms these of imitation the through lized interpreted in more ways. On the On ways. more in interpreted 20

As I discussed above, the originality and and originality the above, discussed I As de - essentializing the gendered body gendered the essentializing ” (12) ” So here again the male norm norm male the again here So ”

h ‘ the ty ideal, and the ability to ability the and ideal, ty - esque, the cave, things things cave, the esque, natural

oe n h 15 the in Rome n eain o an to relation in ’ one

order. Russo Russo order.

hand, it is it hand, h gives she

The The th

CEU eTD Collection classical thedifference 8) body. summarizes grotesque As Russo : (1995, andthe first senseconcept, of of the thenotion thegrotesque canby best understood be the comparing Literature and Kayser: Wolfgang of work the with associated be can which uncanny book his in found be can that (1984) Bakhtin of theorization combination of femininityanand irrational hypermuscularity: connection. f the of category the to belong fi the add to like would I row, this Continuing Dwarf. the or Impersonator Female the Venus, Hottentot the Woman, Tattooed the Twin, Siamese the Lady, Fat the Medusa, the Woman, Bearded the Woman, Unruly the book, her movements. epileptic almost grandiose, in manifest also is mind of state altered the case still can body central remain the but state, psychological inner an characterize to also moves the grotesque of notion the so experience, an describe to used is grotesque term the where Holmes, bi impossible is pregnancy pregnant side mentioned often for as such order natural the of outside is mean think I (3) designs.” fantastical and intermingled, body human and animal and vegetation combining drawings, mysterious perfectness, century. ing of grotesque is that it can it that is grotesque of ing Russo Russo n hs eid f h Renaissance the of period this In a’ s h fudtoa fgr of figure foundational the is hag’ Russo lists various lists Russo

n ht cave that in

19) distinguishes (1995) (1963), and with t with and (1963), in this sense of the grotesque such as such grotesque the of sense this in - effect of steroid use steroid of effect

a smtig ey ifrn found different very something was ologically. symbolical he e he emale grotesque, predominantly because she displays the the displays she because predominantly grotesque, emale

present combinations of things, irrational connections, that connections, irrational things, of combinations present

gure of the Female Bodybuilder and argue and Bodybuilder Female the of gure ssay of Sigm of ssay w kns f grotesque of kinds two n diin Rso ie a ecrt rm Sherlock from excerpt an cites Russo addition, In figures of the female grotesque such as th as such grotesque female the of figures

example the Bearded Woman (actually, the most most the (actually, Woman Bearded the example in the case of female bodybuilders female of case the in

grotesque in the theorization of Bakhtin whose whose Bakhtin of theorization the in grotesque when the emphasis was put on harmony, and and harmony, on put was emphasis the when 21

und Freud called Freud und that similarly, similarly, that in the example of the hysterics the of example the Rabelais and His World His and Rabelais te anvl ae o the on based carnival the : “ sre o srne and strange of series “a : one way of describing the the describing of way one The Uncanny The The Grotesque in Art in Grotesque The

at i intricate, in parts ). The ‘senile, ‘senile, The ).

( can she that n.d. in which in e Crone, e

). and the and In the Inthe In CEU eTD Collection of instead Reeves, Steve of contours the had States representations. United the in records hamburgers, shirts, connection: this of strengthening the in role huge a played consumerism 17 whether wonder makesme it namebirth, givenat his not name, stage a is name hisSince (1997). Wyke of article the from out turns it as humankind of perfectness 16 conceptionshe also identity addedofancient bodily topopular itself.” mod “[t]he claims: (1997) Wyke as forth, and back functioned effects these But films. historical in heroes ancient of role the in bodies muscular these used also Movies body. naked the of (1997) Wyke to According free bodybuildingcompetitions. rounds posing of (54) music.” to set poses classical of series a skin, animal onlya fig le “Wearing body. this of functionality and strengths the of instead physicality, his of aesthetics the purely appreciate to ready was arts of pieces ancient these with acquainted being audience “mostcelebrated aswas the showsandin his statuesclassical imitated who Sandow bodybuildingEugene ofwas representatives first the of One magazines). in movies, Hollywood early in circus, the (in genres different in classicism interwo was strongman the of occurrence the illuminates (1997) Wyke Maria as Indeed, bodybuilding. male of case the to applied surly be can this opinion, self static, closed, “monumental, ideal is which physique the reflect exactly can body classical described above the glance, first At

i s His Her example is how bodybuilder Steve Reeves became the representation of Hercules. Of course, course, Of Hercules. of representation the became Reeves Steve bodybuilder how is example Her ern bodybuilder has thus borrowed much of his body image from the classical world, but world, classical the from image body his of much borrowed thus has bodybuilder ern omlzn aprtos f h bugose Te grotesque official carnivalesque,social the lowculture transformation”. and or with non The with identified is it bourgeoisie. changing; and multiple secreting, the irregular, protruding, and of individualism, rationalism, aspirations the official with or normalizing later, ‘high’ and the Renaissance with the identified of is culture it sleek; and transcenden symmetrical, is contained, body classical “The rn cneto t te ueis oeet ut ae contrib have must movement eugenics the to connection trong af and some bronze body paint, he would step into a glass case and perform, on anand perform,glasscase on a stepinto bronze would bodypaint, he and af some

this kind of rhetoric serves as a rationalization of the celebration celebration the of rationalization a as serves rhetoric of kind this

the chosen first name Eugene is not a reference to Eugenics. Eugenics. to reference not a is Eugene name first thechosen ad ouetl coe, ttc self static, closed, monumental, and t

perfect man” (55) ofhistime. (55) perfect man” 22

- contained, symmetrical and sleek”. In my my In sleek”. and symmetrical contained,

This performance is similar to the to similar is performance This a ll Hercules pictures Hercules ll uted to his success advertising the the advertising success his to uted ven with the rhetoric of of rhetoric the with ven 17

body is open, open, is body 16

In his the1890’s

occurred occurred

its classical classical its muscular muscular on sport on - -

CEU eTD Collection bodybuilde female the of body the whereas the bodybuilder, male the of that body the with argueassociated be can body to classical like would I So bodybuilder. female the of figure the of characteristics orde existing the of disruption The of disruption of polls centred the of limits the established Greece ancient of im Western in community of limits the defined always have “Monsters 180): (1991, formulates Haraway Donna As males. Greek ancient of order such a modern the called is exhibition whole the hyper of kind that woman, muscular more a b female the of changes the of phenomenonthe spite of quotation, in the I understand As art.”(89). prototype historicalin no hyper the for prototype Fierste article this In 2000). al., et. was (Kaplan article published an bodybuilders, and artists roundtable curators, the the From of participation popular. the very with discussion was program the and woman bodybuilder the was Contemporary of Museum New the in held Amazon, Modern the Picturing exhibition, an was there 2000, In art. through tropes finding of process this start to is possibility Instead,one bodybuilders. female of case the in used be cannot rhetoric classical classicizing a can female?” themuscled for rhetoric validation take of form what tradition, classical a of inheritance direct the as masculine, very be connection inthe ancient times. The figure of the ancient Amazon contained a subversive potential, a threat to the the to threat a potential, subversive a contained Amazon ancient the of figure The bodybuilding female for tradition a of kind that build to hand, other the On

problematic. problematic. marriage and boundary pollutions of the warrior with animality and woman.” woman.” and animality with warrior the of pollutions boundary and marriage I msls ae en osiue a ‘setal’ n ‘traditionally’ and ‘essentially’ as constituted been have muscles “If r shows a stronger connection stronger a shows r - muscular woman. There’s no historical prototype in flesh, and there’s and flesh, in prototype historical no There’s woman. muscular eauty ideal from the hourglass to the very thin and nowadays to to nowadays and thin very the to hourglass the from ideal eauty , f edr om, h pluin f onais are boundaries of pollution the norms, gender of r,

Amazon - muscularity does not have a history. In contrast, In history. a have not does muscularity 23

which indicates their attempt to search for for search to attempt their indicates which –

to the grotesque body. This body does does body This body. grotesque the to asks Wyke (1997, 70). It thatt asks (1997, seems Wyke 70). aginations. The Centaurs and Amazons Amazons and Centaurs The aginations. n tts “hr i n historical no is “There states: in the Greek male human by their their by human male Greek the Art in New York. The topic topic The York. New in Art

seems to seems he he CEU eTD Collection 85) (1995, Russo traumas. childhood her and homosexuality, latent her identity, gender her in flaw a for compensate must bodybuilder “s body abject” and excessive, deformed, monstrous, “doubled, the quotation, this understand I As link its be relativel a within place can resu which episodes eating binge in engaged is bodybuilder tired psychologically the that Af shape. competition vascular striated, dried, the to body untrained relatively initial, the from changes radical and dynamic through goes body n natural hormones, muscles her of development the catalyze to took bodybuilder 2) monthly. appear to ceases femalebodybuilders of flow menstrual the that often quite happens body,it anorexic - irregular1)body is: this female,but the of size musclebody andof onlynorms the exceednot

which can be best demonstrated by the irregularity of the menstrual cycle. Similarly to th to Similarly cycle. menstrual the of irregularity the by demonstrated best be can which ound dramaticallychanged. lt in a sudden increase of her weight, if she is she if weight, her of increase sudden a in lt

which is outside of the natural order, natural the of outside is which or apart fr in distance locatable entirelynever is formulation this in emerges which body the of image or strange The division Law. the and a body biological assumes the of but fictions discursive such, the between as the materiality of with identified image not The is state. inner an abje and as excessive, deformed, monstrous, doubled, projection as body grotesque uncanny, cultural as bodily the to and related is grotesque the case, second the “In

In what follows, I would like to turn to the second kind of the of kind second the to turn to like would I follows, what In to the female bodybuilder. writesgrot Russo(1995,9) about the mind in a sound body sound a in mind om thewhich psyche dependsbody upontheas image a‘prop’.”

“ t he freak can be read as a trope not only of the ‘secret self’, but of the most most the of but self’, ‘secret the onlyof not trope a as read be can freak he Secreting utrition supplement, vitamins or all, or none of them. of none or all, or vitamins supplement, utrition y short time: in a year or two or year a in time: short y Thus t Thus

” - he female bodybuilder female he

which means that the spectator never knows what the female the what knows never spectator the that means which changes to distorted mind in a distorted body distorted a in mind distorted to changes

presupposes a similar inner self. The idea of the the of idea The self. inner similar a presupposes 24

ter the ter

not careful enough. All these changes take take changes these All enough. careful not most strongly to the psychic register register psychic the to strongly most , the whole composition of her of composition whole the , can be seen as a freak, freak, a as seen be can excruciating dieting, it often happens happens often it dieting, excruciating , whether whether , esque asesque uncanny: grotesque and explore explore and grotesque 3) Changing 3) h used she and a and . So the female the So .

ccording to to ccording

body can can body steroids, steroids, ct ct –

this this e

CEU eTD Collection ethicalprocesses and issues, onthe of research. the of stage every in produced being is what in role huge a plays interviewer the and process, dialogical illusionary also is themselves for speaking life” exotic their “narrating eac let could we hope I though mask”, to “mask least at up meet to order in women these approach Theyare life”. silent,barkernarratesexotic their by are, Freaks freaks. of spectacle the […] viewed. be with to beings as apart definition, mask to mask or face to face up meet not do Audiences distance. and lines sight requires definition, by spectacle, “A 79): (1995, claims in conducting by bodybuilders female by experienced environment. social closer bodybuilders’ female the of level micro the on and society wider the of level inevitableunnoticed, lookatthem. isso notto it remain cannot bodies These bodybuilders. female about thinking when issue important very social by culture that of experience phantasmatic externalized, ‘out there’,hypervisible, aspectscontemporary the and andculture exposed of of h other to see our face for some moments. By no means did I want to be their barker barker their be to want I did means no By moments. some for face our see to other h If I see deeply in myself, I wanted to step out from the role of the audience and and audience the of role the from out step to wanted I myself, in deeply see I If there’ ‘out Being In the empirical part of my thesis, I make an attempt to explore to attempt an make I thesis, my of part empirical the In I would like to further elaborate on my position as a researcher, on on researcher, a as position my on elaborate further to like would I

as a grotesque body grotesque a as

n y thesis my in

collecting data O te te hn, aig ht hs wmn are women these that saying hand, other the On .

In the traditional sideshow, traditional Inthe 25 triggers various kinds of reac of kinds various triggers bcue odcig neves s alw is interviews conducting because ,

subjects.”

in the ne terviews. terviews. xt chapter.xt I think this hypervisibility is a a is hypervisibility this think I As Mary Russo eloquently eloquently Russo Mary As

they are often caged. often theyare tions tions the on the macro the on se

reactions ays a a ays CEU eTD Collection 19 18 shortly introduce interviewees my the competingin and fitness in performing woman a and bodybuilders, male judge, a bodybuilders, bodybuilding: female on perspectives other include to intention the had ot the On me. with shared they experiences what on focus one with and bodybuilder, female not ava are they so abroad, compete them of more and bodybuilders, female Hungarian 10 maximum be. to wantthey who or are theywho express inte the for time the have t strict th because community, their of outside people in trust women some really not the think were I successful. attempts my although Federation, Bodybuilding and Fitness Hungarian 1. Methodology III. hey usually have to work beside work to have usually hey

The givenname The willfur I Participants theof interviews taboo ilable inour country. epn hs n id I aae o odc itriw ih n cie competitive active one with interviews conduct to managed I mind, in this Keeping the through bodybuilders female with contact in get to tried I research, my In ther elaborate on these dilemmas when concluding the experiences of the research. research. ofthe the experiences concluding when dilemmas these on elaborate ther .

2) In Hungary, a female bodybuilder cannot earn a living by doing this sport, so sport, this doing by living a earn cannot bodybuilder female a Hungary, In 2)

communicated through a common acquaintance, many of them do not really really not do them of many acquaintance, common a through communicated s are pseudonyms to protect theirreal protect to pseudonyms sare body

fitness category alscategory fitness olwn mjr atr cud ly rl i the in role a play could factors major following

rview. 3) rview.

spending hours in the gym. It means that they simply do not do simply they that means It gym. the in hours spending 19 recreational female bodybuilder: female recreational Not verbal communication, but rather their body is used to to used is body their rather but communication, verbal Not :

o helped me with their participation. participation. their with me helped o 18 26 - life identity. identity. life 4) As my interviewees reported, there areonly there reported, myinterviewees As 4)

ey use steroids and talking about it is a is it about talking and steroids use ey

her hand, b hand, her

in this work I will mainly mainly will I work this in y using triangulation, using y se difficulties: 1) as as 1) difficulties: se a coach of female female of coach a

I would like to like Iwould another I CEU eTD Collection I thus bodybuilding, in the l in questions information moreaskcomplex could basic some understanding in lot a me helped her to Talking either. list this (another WABBA 20 the of winner a also is he and 2004, in Championship Hungarian - common law w Sh Champion. Bodybuilder Female Romanian a is she though category, fitness the in - judge. Championships. World and European in medalist gold also was he but Championship, National Hungarian the times 10 - competedyears. for sport inthis 4 6 a achieved she after body in Championship National Hungarian the won She - years32 old,and he - recreational a asbodybuilder. acollege Sheand has teaches in inasecondary diploma, school continues still She injured. got she unfortunately but badly, competitor - havinga coaching finishedcourse. B in trainer personal a as gym a in works She medalist. Championship World -

Julia: Julia: Janos Sandra Daniel: Nora: 37 years old, she has been doing bodybuilding since she was 20. She is a three a is She 20. was she since bodybuilding doing been has she old, years 37 Nora: Attila: he is 41 years old and has been a bodybuilder for 20 years. He managed to win the the win to managed He years. 20 for bodybuilder a been has and old years 41 is he Attila: Emily: 41 years old, she has been doing bodybuilding for 20 years. She wanted to be a a be to wanted She years. 20 for bodybuilding doing been has she old, years 41 Emily: In the In

He is the common law husband of isthecommon Julia. He : 54 years old, and he has been doing bo years doing been he has and old, : 54 She is 41 years old, her main sport was boxing, but for 5 year butfor 5 years boxing, sportwas She is41 old,her main end, I did not include any interview excerpts quoting Sandra. But I do not want to leave her out from from out her leave to want not do I But Sandra. quoting excerpts interview any include not did I end, 20 he is the coach of Nora, and has been the trainer of other femal other of trainer the been has and Nora, of coach the is he : she is doing her MA studies in ‘recreain studies MA her doing is she ife ofJanos

has beenhas a member

place in the European Championship. She is 24 years old, and has and old, years 24 is She Championship. European the in place . They Nowadays, he works as a trainer, and he has a qualifica a has he and trainer, a as works he Nowadays,

both live in Győr, and inGyőr, completedboth live

ater interviews. interviews. ater

of the bodybuildingcommunity he 16. since was 27 dybuilding for 27 years.has He 27 for dybuilding

tion and tion event organizer’ major in Budapest.in major organizer’ event - ins ctgr i 21, h year the 2010, in category fitness

secondary education.secondary s

she has been competing has competing been she e bodybuilders. He bodybuilders. e Budapest.

won more than more than won udapest after after udapest tion as a as tion e is the is e

time time

is is –

CEU eTD Collection explore to wanted I because experiences. bodybuilder their of out meanings The inquiry.” shape that i constrains quotation situational the and studied, relations is what intimate and the researcher reality, of nature constructed socially the stress researchers all)…Qualitative at measured (if measured or examined, rigorously not are that meanings and processes on emphasis an implies qualitative word “The 4): (2003, Lincoln and Denzin to According research. quantitative a than idiographic more is it and cases, particular 3. Metho of these meanings experiences, any in inherent meanings multiple the developed. sense, this In interview. next the of questions the into included became findings unexpected or new The it. let usually I direction, pr remaining on more served it but investigate, topical 2. Instruments close bodybuilder e iiay questi liminary

to Győr.completed He

dcdd o ae qaiaie eerh bcue t el wt te xmnto of examination the with deals it because research, qualitative a make to decided I In tohavef order int erviews. d iprat to important s The questions were open were questions The s organization) European Cup in Serbia. He has a small gym in Csorna,gym a tiny small in He a Serbia. has European in Cup organization)

pn o h ise t issues the to open

according to Denzin (2001). toDenzin according ons, please, refer to Appendix Appendix to refer please, ons,

peae a e o qetos rela questions of set a prepared I lexibility in my researchI project,semi decidedlexibility toconduct in my

e bcue was I because me,

secondary education. the situated everyday experiences of a marginalized group of of group marginalized a of experiences everyday situated the to increase to e participants he - the interviews were built on each other a other each on built were interviews the ended in order to get thick get to order in ended my my 28 self

neetd n o tee oe construct women these how in interested as applied also I

confidence and atd to wanted I ) . the emotional and biographical nature biographical and emotional the

hn h itriw ok another took interview the When e t cran ois wne to wanted I topics certain to ted

during the interview. I focused I interview. the during hr wt m ( me with share descriptions that can capture capture can that descriptions femi a ni st research method, method, research st hip between the the between hip s the research research the s for for - h st of set the structured town town

CEU eTD Collection interview CEU the at that research, the of purpose and aim the explained I identities. their protect to like would Iso me, with experiences pseudonyms. use to decided I them, about photographs include to permission me gave they and research, the in names their with part take to agreed interviewees my interview an with ready were 4. Ethical Issues material was c After locations. different in people these of behavior the explore to opportunity an me gave It example). for school the (at workplace interviewee’s these v steroid by influenced is she sense makes she way the analyze experiences someone’s to access no have it I understanding that means my In individual.” as well as collective is experience shared, definition fi a to established confined outside it is happen neither but doesn’t meanings), (it event linguistic a is experience and discursively constituted are “Subjects 793): (1991, writes Scott Joan As mediated. always is Experience searc not are we interviews conducting by Indeed evidence. women - ocabularies function. . Anonym the at or home, interviewee’s the or home, my at either place took interviews The use, I do not want to examine the truth the examine to want not do I use, As

frtedtie osn f consent detailed the (for website and that they can withdraw at any moment without hesitation from the the from hesitation without moment any at withdraw can they that and website

on ct (91 age ta eprec cno ad hud o b tetd as treated be not should and cannot experience that argues (1991) Scott Joan transcribed. transcribed. seily h to female two the Especially ity was an important issue related to related issue important an was ity

S we bdbidr apy cetfc icuss o eiiie their legitimize to discourses scientific apply bodybuilders when So .

of her past, what kind of language she uses, what discourses what uses, she languageof kind what past, her of orm, please, refer to Appendix Appendix to refer please, orm,

bodybuilder 29 e odr f meaning of order xed of the content of these statements, but the way way the but statements, these of content the of

the thesis the conducting interviews. Though after we we after Though interviews. conducting s

r ht tuy happened ‘truly’ what or hrd ahr esnl tre and stories personal rather shared nutn te interv the onducting

will be available electronically electronically available be will interview, each Beforestarting hing for facts, and for truth. truth. for and facts, for hing s II . Since discourse is by by is discourse Since . ) . When I asked them them asked I When . iew, the taped taped the iew, , but I can can I but , CEU eTD Collection andimpossible illusionary inequalitythat thepower could be to managed I think I “While detachedfalse objectivity may a be claim impossible, sisterh to between from. t were bodybuilders the situation this in and sports, various the in difficulties no caused most prob too not was belonging Myclass sport. middle practicea their as helped withthem.Thislatterrapport had me todevelop also psychologist sport a as education my and involved) also is dieting where activity masculine knowledge. common the of part had It sensitivity. bodybuilders and eye fresh a develop to contribute also could to me I relevant.” On ideal. worthwhile equality no is there difference without hand, other the on subordination; and hierarchy than other terms in difference accept to us prepares equality 43) (1995, Portelli courseIrespect consequences without can they as much as only me tell to them warned again I issues, doping about

of my interviewees came from lower classes, or they were at least less educated. less least at were they or classes, lower from came interviewees my of

This doesn’t mean that power relations could or This doesn’tthatpower mean could relations get in touch with them. It could lead to distrust and suspicion, but on the other hand it hand other the on but suspicion, and distrust to lead could It them. with touch in get As far as my position as a researcher is concerned, I am in absolute agreement with agreement absolute in am I concerned, is researcher a as position my as far As

th e interviewee and the interviewer in my opinion. As Sangster writes (1998, 92): (1998, writes Sangster As opinion. my in interviewer the and interviewee e was explain ed

an outsider in outsider an

these who

ed treat the interviewees with the honest respect of mine, bu mine, of respect honest the with interviewees the treat ly equality makes the interview credible, but only difference makes it it makes difference only but credible, interview the makes equality ly .

writes about the relat the aboutwrites oeie te akd e o t wie oehn i te hss of thesis, the in something write to not me asked they Sometimes requests. requests. me ever me

communication, since I am used to talking to athletes doing doing athletes to talking to used am I since communication, the community of bodybuilding which madewhich bodybuildingofcommunity the ything in detail, and they did not did they and detail, in ything

n diin m bcgon i jd (nte traditionally (another judo in background my addition, In ionship between researcher and informant: “Onlyinformant: betweenresearcherand ionship 30

( – should be should

only sameness, which is a much less much a is which sameness, only

the positive message that Iaccept messagethe positive that avoided. e xet whom experts he )

erased the relat from

simply refer simply lematic, though Ithat thoughfelt lematic,

ood is alsounrealistic.” ood

th it e advantage that that advantage e more difficult to difficultmore

t I t to issues as a as issues to cud learn could I

on the topi the on

also find it it find also ionship ionship But it it But c

CEU eTD Collection handle situations. similar gestures. and comments, negative t change to opportunity an is there conscious, reactions these make we If day. every difficulties bodybuilder bodies hypermuscular by part next the close will I bodybuilder. female the of figure the to related showed competitors reactio basic what summarize to like would whi curiosity excited with her to turned I time. same the at image powerful andstrange a was She location. this in unusual and special seco the of distances. far from them discover easy: a was it But them. recognize could I how afraid was I city, the in somewhere was hem. On the other hand, I will also focus on what strategies the women use to cope with th with cope to use women the strategies what on focus also will I hand, other the On hem. exploring bodybuilders Before the first interviews, I was rather nervous. Especially, when the meeting point point meeting the when Especially, nervous. rather was I interviews, first the Before ndary school where she teaches. And there she was: a was: she there And teaches. she where school ndary

is a rather stigmatized figure of society, and these women have to face a lot of of lot a face to have women these and society, of figure stigmatized rather a is the women the

ant e u be cannot

in vari in ’s experiences of the way their way the of experiences ’s

ous locations ous

ntcd te ae hypervisible are they nnoticed,

Investigating these coping skills can help other women to to women other help can skills coping these Investigating I remember when I was waiting for Emily at the reception the at Emily for waiting was I when remember I e rig o t sae t her. at stare to not trying le . I find this analysis important, because the female the because important, analysis this find I 31

s ae bodybuilders, male ns social environment responded to their their to responded environment social :

vn n h sre oe can one street the on even huge, muscular woman, so so woman, muscular huge, n h nx catr I chapter, next the In

and

female fitness fitness female lways so lways e

CEU eTD Collection the much, too is bodybuilding Female fitness. of popularity growing opinion the expressed They contrary, lea at or bodybuilders, female appreciate to how learn bodybuilding of world (cellar) isolated the of members the that suggests quotation This longer learning period. develop them in beauty see bodybu evaluation. her or his to central see, to what knows person) another at described (2010). al. et Roussal is it as beauty’ ‘adherent and beauty’ ‘free between distinction Kantian the order brings muscles above. bodybuilder female the of body eye. the catches always order’ ‘natural the in located be cannot what hand, other the On size. in huge is body this hand, one the On body. female muscular excessively community the bodybuilding IV.T first time when Ifirst whenI time and was agone havetimes 16,week therefive then.” since bodybuilders female that me to natural absolutely is it So this. to eyes has (s)he years, 10 for cellar the at there down living already been has (s)he If beautiful. it sees (s)he whether bodybuilder female or male a ask t [On it. see to developed not are eyes her or his Daniel: he I would like to argue that at least two reasons contribute to the hypervisibility of the of hypervisibility the to contribute reasons two least at that argue to like would I ilding community do not have this have not do community ilding h ceto o cran iesos te aclrt, ymty srain o the of striations symmetry, vascularity, the dimensions, certain of creation The

my perception of the female female the of perception other other “If someone walks out there in the world, and suddenly comes in a gym, a in comes suddenly and world, the in there out walks someone “If male bodybuilder interviewees found these bodies unnatural and repulsive. and unnatural bodies these found interviewees bodybuilder male

in In the case of ‘adherent beauty’, the person looking at an object (or here here (or objectan at looking person the beauty’, ‘adherent of case Inthe As one ofmyDanielAs said: interviewees, to the evaluation of these bodies. these of evaluation the to

that female bodybuilding has started to disappear, because disappear, to started has bodybuilding female that th s og aqiig ontv shms which schemas cognitive acquiring rough is nonsense and irrational on some level, as it was discussed discussed was it as level, some on irrational and nonsense is

According to these authors, people outside of the the of outside people authors, these to According

sh hs cer nelig concept, underlying clear a has (s)he

knowledge to evaluate these bodies. The ability to to ability The bodies. these evaluate to knowledge

32 bodybuilder inside and outside of of outside and inside bodybuilder

st these bodies are seen to be natural. O natural. be to seen are bodies these st he other hand] otherhe

exist. I went to the gym for the for gym the to went I exist. Thi s phenomenon can be related to to related be can phenomenon s

it is unnecessary to unnecessaryto is it se women lose their their lose women se

s h rsl o a of result the is h grotesque The characteristics

of n the n

the the by by

CEU eTD Collection type body the so strong, that morethebodi resembled not is Championship Romanian the that explained They women. 21 authenticity isused bodybuild male bodybuilders supported. isnot female of muscularity excessive the that imagined be can it so competitions, bodybuilders’ female and male to related expectations bodybuilders. his between discrepancy this of conscious is men. with together put be can they that much, so femininity their lose They muscular. wher muscularity, male of limits no are There women. on herejects totally onmen, desirable musculature it awarehe is findswhile enormous Janos that and wasJanos alsoshared by former despite sheisa cha Julia bodybuilder femininity.

O f course, I asked them how how them asked I course, f say, so more, further, further, further, it is too much for me, repugnant. And it is it And repugnant. me, for much too is it further, further, further, more, so say, they as sky the is limit the and too, women the sizes, horrible posses they Janos: you Julia: one don’t isaman, know,which and whic the about thinking not am I fitness culture. muchthat So now So considered. is category bodybuilding the “Janos rememberwell,Ms. Olympiagot and the “ see and it, puttogether mix should with men.” I if but appearance, si imposing something an has developed, is defined, he proportional, when especially symmetrical, reverently, them at looking am I amazed sizes, am these I and sizes, monumental achieve to like would doing sport,a whosaysME [pressingme,whothis is this, theworld] Domi: I have just read that the total prize for the Mr. Olympia was $600,000 if I if $600,000 was Olympia Mr. the for prize total the that read just have I Domi: This tendency This The glass ceiling of muscularity was nicely expressed by the male bodybuilder bodybuilder male the by expressed nicely was muscularity of ceiling glass The : In my opinion opinion my In : He ers.

ia o a oa, hs… ned hr i fmnnt? o they So femininity? is where Indeed this…… woman, a on milar by Attila by Attila mn ohr male other among es of fitness women. fitness es of

The following interview excerpt demonstrates the way a claim for for claim a way the demonstrates excerpt interview following The is apparent is it come it male and female bodybuilding is slowly merging, as far as as far as merging, slowly is bodybuilding female and male to legitimize the

in the distribution of the prize moneys between female and and female between moneys prize the of distribution the in

that Julia is a bodybuilder champion, but she is against hypermuscular hypermuscular against is she but champion, bodybuilder a is Julia that

bodybuilders se inequalities: 33

$60,000. What do you do What it? about think $60,000.

ok as a a ug a female at judge a as also works h one isawoman.

a fml bdbidr ae too are bodybuilders female eas by men possessing possessing men mpion inRomania. mpion nd as a man I a man as nd

of competitors of

Janos

CEU eTD Collection body. fat a for body dried not yet muscular a mistook simply people many that schemas cognitive and skills learnt to related so is body muscled the evaluating of skill The developand abigger reactio various met She nowadays. the responsibility since works ofthe it similarlysports. sport, inother legit the makes sport another copy, a is bodybuilding sport power dominated male A hand, other the On only. gets winner the what or money, of amount total the meant I whether us between misunderstanding a by explained be might less seem bodybuilders male of money prize the make to Attila of reaction first The oe spo power popular and more more is boxing female know, You box. with as same the is it think I Attila: AndwhatDomi: inthe canbackground? stand Maybe,Attila: maybe. maybe, ButDomi: what do $120 meant know, hethatmuch. got might have place first the ago but years year, of this couple got a Olympia actually Mr. the money much how know don’t I No, Attila: communicate negativity this stare would they are People Hmm stare not do muscles]. they Because good. is [her it say don’t I this so terribly, staring besides shaped nicely be to dieted I later “ thereason.” is this think is is man a youknow Because opinion. Emily: ml as rpre ta te iuto o fml bdbidn i vr difficult very is bodybuilding female of situation the that reported also Emily

a woman, a So in the beginning many people though people many beginning the in So r , oevr i moreover t, o eas h smsua.Idntko h xc esn,bt I but reasons, exact the know don’t I muscular. is she because not , but indeed real box is the box the is box real indeed but , hyper at

you huh e os o atclt ti clearly this articulate not does he though muscular body. batfl oa. oty epe don’t people Mostly woman. beautiful a

the sport of men counts as real sport. It could mean that female that mean could It sport. real as counts men of sport the imization of prize differences more valid, or at least decreases least at or valid, more differences prize of imization about differencethink this between thetwosides? dmnts vn oe mn men among more even dominates t

outwards, like it.” they don’t

s fe hvn satd o e novd n h sot and sport, the in involved be to started having after ns

She a man, because he because man, 34 recalls

tl lal sstejsiiainta n a in that justification the uses clearly ttila

of men of

heras first thefollowing: experiences t , that I was more like fat, but but fat, like more was I that , . And because this is also a also is this because And .

is muscular, but a woman a but muscular, is

- 130,000. But I don’t don’t I But 130,000.

Te oprsn with comparison The .

than box in my my in box than li

e t o they or it, ke at at someone as as someone

Emily is Emily not not

CEU eTD Collection body once community. bodybuilding cau can body her that aware is satisfyingcuriosity.Sheof instrument someone’s the or fetishism, of objectbeing the avoid to like would She relationship. sexual new a in involved being when careful, be to wants Emily feelit she guys;these about they and aggressive, is she tell Girls usuallyth body, her of more shows develop wrinkles strong extremely her treat workin while damaged be could implant (the muscle under put be couldn’t implants breast her well: as services other using in tailored: she what her fits cannot onthe top.Her down it caused muscularitysome pull gazes. curious the from it hide dress usually she that me tells She spectacle. a being due not is it because to, objected is she staring continuous the enjoying woman was so much different to him who was used to his girlfriends.usually And his to used was who him to different much so waswoman beca it, stop I said: he then it, push So much. so hurt it because massage, a me give to him asked I so shoulder, my in pain had other, each palpate not not was there do so siblings, usually we first… when forget never will “I Emily: relationship. good so be would might he Because something met have that. I and either, good in not experiences any have not experience does who man a with “ to get to know a new manto getknowa new Emily: Now it would co would it Now Emily:

t hey like it, she she it, heylike :

much

it differently it So thattheotherSo iswatching

is in a relationship with a with relationshipa in is I could not turn my head. And he touched my shoulder, started to to started shoulder, my touched he And head. my turn not could I te say they … is sometimes approached byapproached sometimes is

She tells a story a tells She want to compare their biceps with biceps their compare to want

or he might be surprised. […] On the other hand this is this hand other the On […] surprised. be might he or

But me to my mind my to me really bodily contact between us. But for some reason, I reason, some for But us. between contact bodily really , she says: g with huge weights), and she needed much more botox to botox more much needed she and weights), huge with g se surprise to somebody who is not a member of the the of member a not is who somebody to surprise se

ose people go up to her who has who her to goup people ose buying clothes is diffic is clothes buying . But I don’t want to be an ornament in a sexual sexual a in ornament an be to want don’t I But .

ed due to continuous strains. At strains. continuous to due ed use you are like a man. So the touch of a a of touch the So man. a like are you use about

male her, or staring her, or

that I would be reluctant to be together together be to reluctant be would I that

like this, these perverse kids perverse these this, like how her brother reacted when touching her her touching when reacted brother her how bodybuilder. But considerButbodybuilder. es lesbian

up, ult, she has to have her dresses re dresses her have to has she ult, in order order in s

. Whereas boys ask her whether her ask boys Whereas . hers. at

her, sono,no…”

Emily does not care much much care not does Emily some to cover her body and to to and body her cover to to thing positive to say. say. to positive thing her beauty, but her her but beauty, her

parties, where she she where parties, … ing how ing wow it it wow

trouble trouble

would would - CEU eTD Collection face). her of part right the on visible episod this Emily. of eyes the in workplace the of devaluation the to contribute also might her not is it that states be to who boss, her of honesty the appreciates She femininity. normative perform to inability her of because accepted be not could body Emily’s them, homogenize of case the In gone th shoulders. muscular her uncovers it time same the at but femininity, her emphasize to meant are which woman 2003) Jagodzinski, Aoki what to connected be can that evoked, is transvestite the of image body. hypermuscular female the about thinking when emphasized be should component suggests excerpt This

laugh are you So looks. it how him when that recognize, me makes he know, how isabroad.” it thing approach to but sizes, my or size, the only that S form. my accept not does of people layer this So no. but wrong, is something or do, to started we as progress not know (s)he to face me told (s)he because boss, B absolute. so pay they then, since them for working been have I “So Emily: present there, though she is absolu is she though there, present ” Not only her private life is influenced by her hypermuscular body, Emily has also also has Emily body, hypermuscular her by influenced is life private her only Not r ough difficulties at her difficultiesas workplaces,t ough . So the So .

e not only to her size, but to her whole style (actually, she has some tattoos, one one tattoos, some has she (actually, style whole her to but size, her to only not e ]” ]”

a multinational company multinational s confusion

everything, (s)he likes me, we talk on the phone if something does does something if phone the on talk we me, likes (s)he everything,

ad that said ut I do the work in the background. I appreciated my immediate immediate my appreciated I background. the in work the do I ut problem; s

ht h snain f hs oy s ifrn, o ol te visual the only not different, is body this of sensation the that in a solid way. So this is very prevalent in this country, I don’t don’t I country, this in prevalent very is this So way. solid a in

of the gender binary gender the of “

h fml bdbidr al t b a a wo al t b a be to fails who man a be to fails bodybuilder female the

she could not do anything, so she tries not to deal with it. with deal to not tries she so anything, do not could she again dressed as a transve a as dressed again

h rmmes oe f e bs fins a always has friends best her of one remembers, She where women have women where maybe o I said it was their was it said I o tely capable of the work. On the other hand, Emily Emily hand, other the On work. the of capable tely I face that I am nice in her or hi or her in nice am I that face

put on a strapped dress, he comes and I ask ask I and comes he dress, strapped a on put 36 he followinghe story indicates:

my whole style was it, but I tried really really tried I but it, was style whole my

is salient, when Emily t Emily when salient, is

to wear costumes that unify and unify that costumes wear to problem. So it is not sur not is it So problem. stite [he answers] So…[ answers] [he stite otherwise still rejects her rejects still otherwise me relatively well, well, relatively me

s opinion s ries to wear dresses dresses wear to ries (1996, 61, cited by cited 61, (1996,

She attributes She , and , e,

The The

CEU eTD Collection storyIwould like toinclude here from hergirl: Emily and isabout a little course of children Little mothers. the is bodybuilder female the of figure the suspicious. mother, the of role feminine this in again, So happen female toher, another bodybuilder: butto a She instead ofsteroids. more use, steroid nut toward them turn to about chance a has she so opinion take, to one which concretely her ask often students Male bodybuilding. in interest student the of some to closer get to advantage the has She shock. earl reported She about react the way students appearance: her her to also her ask I it. notices everybody immediately missing, is she if example: an as teaches she good. no mean will it life, in salient so be to not her warned me.” for ask t of couple to a know come I why that’s students] too, Boys, suggestions. [the them of Many problem. a be to would not it trying like am dress I other. each with wrestling are we wrestling, are “We Emily: answered: aha. I said: of course, yes. She said: You sure? [laugh] sure? You said: She yes. course, of said: I aha. answered: g little the Then leaving. are my changed I where o front in mother stopped She clothes. her with room locker the entered girl little a once wil “I Emily: fromthis her daughter are theabout talking it.” mothers because t kind the and started, rumor a So woman. a is she now and man, a been have must she that fables created mothers the lady, bodybuilder female big relatively a is she daughter, her took she where the In story. this me told who Szeged, from girl a was “This Emily: s sae a tr wt m lctd in located me with story a shares lso o say it in a nice way, but she should not be surprised if she hears something like like something hears she if surprised be not should she but way, nice a in it say o

The ima The ier that students get used to her body shape body her to used get students that ier

l never forget, back then I worked out at the Fitness2000 gym, and and gym, Fitness2000 the at out worked I then back forget, never l ge of the transgendered occurs: the bodybuilder is a strange body among body strange a is bodybuilder the occurs: transgendered the of ge f me and stared. Her mother asked her to her asked mother Her stared. and me f r sod hr, n akd e ae o a il I girl? a you are me: asked and there, stood irl ergarten teachers told her: told teachers ergarten are very sensitive to this gender confusion. The last last The confusion. gender this to sensitive very

37 nte stig te kinderga the setting, another

hings, they relatively trust trust relatively they hings,

She mentions the school where school the mentions She relatively easily, after t after easily, relatively

they do not know how know not do they s

through their common common their through And her mother her And

kindergarten, kindergarten, rition supplements rition rten

come

ht i not did that :

we we he first first he

CEU eTD Collection of her own as occurs lady old an story positive her Interestingly,in strange. is body someone’s of changevery drastic this them for So looks. it how not do, can body the what with connection in more sport a conceptualize can outsider of eyes the in activity this of incomprehensibility the suggests quotation This role here too: important an play can Age activity. bodybuilding her to family her of response the is what commun the deep her to partly attributed be could it think I stories. many so not mentioned with other members community. ofthe and humor, with treated becan episod these that but children, smaller of curiosity the only not me demonstrates story This be honest someone, Ihonest someone, angry not was at her. react children this.” So like that after this with leg my pulled hear had tocome and tellthis.” self and definiteness such with street the crossed I but sporty, Im that me, to came lady old an when tram the of stop the at waiting was I [laugh] year last So but… points, weak self and definite more much am “I Nora: woman muscular. [smile]” isso The withit. Yes. others noproblem have not do they and understand, really not theydo I think So competition. a you drastically…. know, butnotthatso m you them. like for I somethingdon’t tennis,or playing table and and are matches, cups, competitively,and there strange them very for be is must sport it competitive granny… Because my But myself. of care do, take to just like would I what know I say they opinion; their expressing avoid others and father my truth, the tell to “So Nora: oprd o ml, oa h i a opttv bdbidr n a esnl trainer personal a and bodybuilder competitive a is who Nora Emily, to Compared vn oe rvln i te ae f le pol. oa hns e gr her thinks Nora people. older of case the in prevalent more even d it, so by the time I went out, everybody was laughing at the reception. Th reception. the at laughing was everybody out, went I time the by so it, d

grandmother: ity, so she is not present at such at present not is she so ity,

a possible counter image counter possible a

the gymserves the

ust do some kind of sport, because not only I look Ilook only not because sport, of kind some do ust

for a l a for

various locations as Emily. She shared with me me with shared She Emily. as locations various 38 [embarrassed laugh] change your changefor laugh] body[embarrassed ong time: You sure? So she was this little little this was she So sure? You time: ong

as a safe place where Emily can laugh together together laughcan Emily where safeplace a as - and a co a and my grandmother do not like it at all. The all. at it like not do grandmother my confident now, for sure. I have my own own my have I sure. for now, confident

mpensation - of the lack of appreciation appreciation of lack the of confidence, that she she that confidence, s pa football play ust

like it, if a a if it, like

involvement in in involvement andparents ey ey s

that e s CEU eTD Collection diagnostic categories. crit of possibility of notion the and use, women these The medicalized, thus was woman connected ofpathologies kinds muscle dysmorphia exercise todifferent as and addiction. such hypermuscular the of spectacle strange grotesque, The control practice control cannot who woman a of strategy survival is muscles on theinner s influences has activity the Practicing connection. close in are they instead opposition, binary bo her only not recognized woman this because story, this reports proudly and happily Nora dily strengths, but her strong her but strengths, dily secreting body of these women facilitated women these of body secreting On the other hand, other the On soitd with associated tatefemale bodybuilder. ofthe might might over her body. her over cs rltd o hm ad the and them, to related icism use. In the next chapter, I woul I chapter, next the In use.

uce dysmorphia, muscle in

the most of the of most

- In this sense the strong body is meant to cover a weak mind. weak a cover to meant is body strong the sense this In mindedness, too. Here, body and mind does not constitute a constitute not does mind and body Here, too. mindedness, overcompensation for for overcompensation existing readings of bodybuilding, bodybuilding, of readings existing

39 and and

the imagination about imagination the exer h happenings the d like to examine the practice of steroid steroid of practice the examine to like d meaning ie dito i odr to order in addiction cise a scooia fa o a rua a trauma, a or flaw psychological s bodybuilders attach to these these to attach bodybuilders s rud e, h cn only can she her, around the amount of steroids of amount the developing huge developing explore the the explore

CEU eTD Collection steroids be would physically additive substances. these that denied They dosages. other’s each monitored and tailored carefully they and periods, cyclical in steroids took they side of possibility the decrease to strategies side the denied often Bodybuilders 3) activity. their about misinformation the to contributes also media the bodybuilders to According substances. banned to related questions these in ignorant be Laycoffee quite regularly.peopl tobacco,and alcohol, as use licitdrugs such they and condition, physical worse a in usually are themselves condemners that illuminating 2) activity. thei into work of lot a put still must bodybuilders everything: solve not do steroids Also, full in work them of many consumption, and production t that claimed self for used other not with are which steroid drugs, contrasted of categories and lifestyle, ascetic their out pointed They emphasized. accounts 1) justifications. fulfillment of types different three found Monaghan using. drug to attached their accepting by justifications made they anabolic about speaking while excuses use not did interviewees steroid Taking substances. V. practice pathological a as Bodybuilding 1. 1. Steroid Monaghan (2002) examined body examined (2002) Monaghan “ and and doping hey don’t want to get away from reality, and emphasized that they take part in part take they that emphasized and reality, from away get to want don’t hey odmain f condemners of Condemnation ” . In this case, the constructive instrumental use of steroids was was steroids of use instrumental constructive the case, this In . s

use is a subculturally normalized be normalized subculturally a is

drugs drugs - fet o steroid of effects would increase their their increase would builders’ vocabularies of vocabularies builders’ - effects: they avoided the particularly toxic drugs, drugs, toxic particularly the avoided they effects: responsibility, but denying the negative quality quality negative the denying but responsibility, ” 40 . Bodybuilders sometimes attacked back by by back attacked sometimes Bodybuilders .

- mrvmn, ny o rceto. They recreation. for only improvement, - us -

e. They also employed certain certain employed also They e. ie os eie bodybuilding. besides jobs time havior in this community, so community, this in havior - level androgenic steroid use, rather use, steroid androgenic motives

f aggression of “ eil f injury of Denial

e are also seen to to seen e are also for using for ad that and ,

banned banned “ Self

his ” - r . CEU eTD Collection the keep must person the opinion, his overemphasizing In eating). excessive of (dying latter the bit of effects negative a maybe eating, excessive with and venom snake with analogy effects positive because speech, his in found also be can injury’ of u counterpointof steroid Another people. toother cause harm does not as it be as respected long individual the of choice free the that indicates Attila framework, th help steroids whereas word, the of senses all in person the dismantle which drugs to contrasted are steroids report this In categories of gives Attila excerpt, following the In v applied they addition, se is smoking, which has a negative influence on the environment of the smoker. The ‘denial The smoker. the of environmentthe on negativeinfluence a has which smoking, is se encourage the person to do harder what (s)he does, and hmm…..and… it has all has it hmm…..and… and does, (s)he they what know harder do you to So person the effect. encourage up’ ‘building a have they so anabolic, name, their in physica effect: it dismantling as are, Steroids a sense. every in person so the dismantle they effect, morally, psychically, catabolic a have drugs “So Attila: with the steroids.” likethat, is it eating. So excessive excessive, goodeither, not is it becauselater, or gormandizes (s)he if but problem, no is there way, normal a in eats person the If eating. for true is this And dose. big in poison and dose, small in medicine a is venom snake even everything, for true is canno it then does, (s)he what knows person the if like, is does noharm t usin by environment, her or his to harm does person the smoking o use the than example him for more to much smoking only good or harm does person when But the […] them. use to wants who anybody dissuade never will I or it, into advantag the what tell disapproveII steroids,Iand always amabout alwayssaidthatifaskedthem, have him from maximum the out bring st of kinds In my research the interviewees used interviewees the research my In ‘self depends on the on depends imulating effects, so besides it gives power, it encourages the person to to person the encourages it power, gives it besides so effects, imulating - fulfillment’ and ‘denialofinjury’: o anyone, maybe only to him or herself if (s)he overdoes it. But this if(s)he overdoesanyone,maybe it. orherself tohim only o ocabularies other than the ones the than other ocabularies

es and disadvantages are, but I have never talked anybody anybody talked never have I but are, disadvantages and es

level of level self e - uflmn o te oyule. n kn o liberalist of kind a In bodybuilder. the of fulfillment

the the an account that can be seen as a mixture mixture a as seen be can that account an -

or herself, which is in the person. I don’t don’t I person. the in is which herself, or more times a day, (s)he wi (s)he day, a times more dose someone takes. In this respect, he makes an an makes he respect, this In takes. someone dose 41 a

similar rhetoric to justify their steroid their justify to rhetoric similar - whether this process will lead to harms or or harms to lead will process this whether

or herself, this is… I disapprove disapprove I is… this herself, or f steroids. Because you know by by know you Because steroids. f

can be found in the Monaghan study. study. Monaghan the in found be can t be a problem. And this this And problem. a be t

to use these substances these use to ll die of it of die ll g steroids, (s)he steroids, g

sooner lly, lly, - use. In use. of

must must the CEU eTD Collection with contact in is she students The bodybuilders. to contrast in practices these follow don’t kids’ ’these talk, Emily’s in But by created system Monaghan. the in injury’ of denial ‘the as categorized further be can account Her ideal: accepted more much a is which body, thin a achieve to order in done being are that practices claims also Emily system. vascular steroid side those to than masculine, becoming bodybuilders female to paid is attention similar is concern Emily’s intervention among teenage boys. and prevention of necessity the express to order in use drug and use steroid between analogy differences the evoking controlled cannot knowswhat it (“if bea (s)he the then person problem”). does, pr these of all in limit a

example, Iexample, danger muchmore see inthat than indrugs.” of period empty no is there is thing other the li my protect to this kidney, my protect to this heart, my protect to e side the much to attention very pay bodybuilders that important is it And thin. very be to reason the for same the does (s)he if than way, cleverly planned a in substance natural totally thi ”I Emily: heart attack.” she menstruate, not does she when and system, vascular masculine a have will she that but problem, biggest the be won’t It moustache. a have will they that scaringwomen likethat, not Butdrug prevention. similarlyto substances ca what about enlightened be should “People Emily: - s wih r re are which use h oprsn ih rg of drugs with comparison The

According to this, the side the this, to According nk (s)he does not cause more harm to him to harm more cause not does (s)he nk

that these kids can do this steroid use for 365 days a year. So So year. a days 365 for use steroid this do can kids these that and similarities similarities and ally health and life life and health ally actices. He also suggests that the effects of steroid intake can be be can intake steroid of effects the that suggests also He actices.

ffects. to

what was emphasized by Schippert (2007), namely that more more that namely (2007), Schippert by emphasized was what do not use other vitamins and substances to prevent the side the prevent to substances and vitamins other use not do

She says: She says: […] So they know if I take this, I must also take this this take also must I this, take I if know they So […] the body, it is very dangerous. In my opinion for for opinion my In dangerous. very is it body, the that there is a tendency to overlook similarly unhealthy unhealthy similarly overlook to tendency a is there that - effects can be reduced be can effects ten came up in other interview other in up came ten varied on a huge scale. As a teacher, Emily made an made Emily teacher, a As scale. huge a on varied

threatening: 42

n hs eot h atrtos n the in alterations the report this in n happen if they use these these use they if happen n

or herself by using a not a using by herself or by applying certain strategies. certain applying by s, but the function of function the but s, ver. […] And And […] ver.

will die of die will

- effects of of effects

CEU eTD Collection of sports(wo)men use doping and steroid the legitimize to order in victimhood of rhetoric a used they addition, selling from financially benefit could to similarly legalized But h muscles. huge developing in use steroid by avoided be can way right the in out working and thereSo contrast, orherattention a“real tohis a paysbody whole: bodybuilder” as the on muscles his developed only shoulders, bodybuilder’ ‘prison the of type the that also observed (2010) al. et Fiáth legs. the of muscularity the is others impress to wants simply just musculature their of int part my to According every develop to have not do they or steroids, taking besides work much that do to have not do they that think them of many Further, it. of empty being do they which steroids of effects ard and work self (s)he risked even his or her life to satisfy those who wants to see circus and blood and circus see to wants who those satisfy to life her or his even risked (s)he Janos: (S)heJuli: onlyachievea wants result. to you because health, saidtobeunhealthy,know itis her (s)hediesof it. or his away throws even sacrifice, a makes competitor the [ RESULTS see to want they because there, out go audiences“The Janos: are we sleepingwhile at night.” us on grows muscle the and ourselves, into testosterone the we inject think people that thing important an is this So way. right the in eat and train h it train should and they thing, whole a is body their that understand them make should “We Emily: In a In is amisunderstanding community: outsideofthe thinkthat eating bodybuilder people word]. They are not interested in anything else at all. So if the wretched wretched the if So all. at else anything in interested not are They word].

rs n bess bcue hs bd prs w parts body these because breasts, and arms

(S)he produces result, so it means (s)he must be even respected, because because respected, even be must (s)he means it so result, produces (S)he different connotation, Janos and Julia held the opinion that steroids should be should steroids that opinion the held Julia and Janos connotation, different

which vocabulary which erviewees the difference between a real bodybuilder and someone who who someone and bodybuilder real a between difference the erviewees the way drugs became legal became drugs way the - discipline is still needed isstill goals. toachievediscipline these

olistically. There is no sense in taking steroids, if you don’t you if steroids, taking in sense no is There olistically. o tk cyclicall take not

was not present in theMonaghan in article: present not was it

n pol cud b could people and 43

in Amsterdam for example. Then the state state the Then example. for Amsterdam in y, so their body cannot have periods of of periods have cannot body their so y,

r vsbe n hi uiom. In uniforms. their in visible ere u mr pr substances. pure more y

pressing

In . CEU eTD Collection notice. to difficult more is it capability, aiming is more even or prevalent, s as is it bodybuilding in But bodybuilding. in is is it as sports, other in prevalent substances banned of use the that suggests excerpt This bodybuilder imagination. inthe public the of figure the to connected is it why reason the is this so bodybuilding, in visible highly sh who athlete the always is victim the and responsible the but countries, powerful of interests struggle. death and life gladia the of figure the Circuses”. and “Bread clearly) more interview the c no has (s)he ente and audience I n this account the sports(wo)man occurs as a victim who just wants to satisfy his or her her or his satisfy to wants just who victim a as occurs sports(wo)man the account this n ould berespected for sacrifice. instead this undertaking inscribed about righteousness, equality, right?” the and talk we if nobody, or others, everybody either then So fry? small the the always Why others? and Russian, The Peking]? in Olympics the [at competitors purity the about talk we if So […] care. don’t We far. that go never we But stand. grand the from sure…” nobody sporty, lean, is (s)he for full… be must and (s)he oh bodybuilder, a Whereas her. or him about appears this suppose cyclist a now if So them. on visible steroids so used bodybuilding, in spectacular is it know you But bodybuilders… before athletes who so steroids,10 the were bodybuilders used who about conducted research a was There bodybuilding. in only not and that… natural is it But them. they “Unfortunately Attila: Similarly, Attila argued that steroid use is prevalent in all competitive sports, but it is it but sports, competitive all in prevalent is use steroid that argued Attila Similarly,

n h bd. n te sot, hr dpn hls o nac te ins o the or fitness the enhance to helps doping where sports, other In body. the on

hoice, if (s)he wants to reach to wants (s)he if hoice, rtain them. Since them. rtain It can indicate that the athletes of our present time can be compared to compared be can time present our of athletes the that indicate can It

tor who tor According to Janos, there are much more at stake here, namely the the namely here, stake at more much are there Janos, to According of the sport, why don’t they dare to check the American American the check to dare they don’t why sport, the of

was instrumentalized in order to amuse the audience with his with audience the amuse to order in instrumentalized was the the th

[bodybuilders] on this list. Cyclists finished at the 1 the at finished Cyclists list. this on famous the

possible achievements possible

phrase the 44

Of course, we could say that these substances substances these that say could we course, Of

desired result. Janos refers Janos result. desired

cannot achieve a result without using using without result a achieve cannot

f asr Nero: Caesar of

of the human body are finite, finite, are body human the of

Pnm t cir et “Panem

st and most, the

place… even even place… (in other parts of parts other (in alient, because it it because alient, censes” or or censes”

CEU eTD Collection argues:existencecompetitions asAttila offree doping the presuppose would competitions free doping of existence the hand, other the On muscles. bodybuilde attract really not do competitions free doping where bodybuilding with case the is This sports. of kinds any in doping of use the without achieved be ever hardly can results indicated, interviewees my As effects. they so doping, to related experiences of most hand, other the On another. for shift to them, of kind one using stop to able be must she or he So bodybuilder. the of performance the and fat, burning mass, body growing as such competition a for preparation the of stages different the at me, to explained Daniel As whyancannot addict: they become reason the exactly is this speech Daniel’s In achievements. their increase to steroids use only Beta (instead steroids not are hy have They defic a creates them the of fluctuations of each them, of are each to addicted be therecan one and stage, each in So condition psychic […] there. stops process talk the then we component, If addict. an be competi can’t competitor “A Daniel: o oig re optto, eas tee s o re dopin free cannot Competitors beencouraged doping.” touse no is there because competition, free doping no is There competition. doping free a is it that say they where competition such no is there So competition. doping’ ‘free a as thing a such no is there because but it, Not competition. free’ ‘doping no is “There Attila: And we irresponsibility.” areabout nottalking must. (s)he when down, it puts (s)he and must, when injects injects, Who anymore. around fool don’t they so undergone,

tor , it is strictly defined when and what. If (s)he becomes addicted to one to addicted becomes (s)he If what. and when defined strictly is it ,

undergone once a serious death experience, and all of them has has them of all and experience, death serious a once undergone iency state, but a competitor, (s)he sur (s)he competitor, a but state, iency - rs, and the audience who would like to see big and freaky freaky and big see to like would who audience the and rs, blockers or blood or blockers

make the muscles dry muscles the make

eoe uh more much become 45

We are not talking about talking not are We doping), but bodybuilders themselves do not do themselves bodybuilders but doping),

them

because they really don’t use don’t really they because have already had life threatening threatening life had already have , different subst different , careful ely has the will power. will the has ely about a professional professional a about cmeiin [….] competition. g , and try to control the the control to try and , being being ances can enhance enhance can ances trend y . CEU eTD Collection is addiction psychological of possibility substances. of kinds various of use periodical the to due them to addicted be cannot butcompetitivesteroids, bodybuildera use mightthem, to Ingym.contrast the in workingout be might that use steroid on thehypervisible sometimes obscures bodybuilder the a longer history it despiterejected, more much was use steroid and women, for stricter always was doping grote the less in occurs it but sports, competitive every in found equally be can use doping that the emphasized they addition, to maximum harm cause can steroids of use the individual, dr to contrast In mentioned. not was system hormone the in changes the of result a as occur might which aggression the risk mean to freedom their choice, lifestyle possible a as represented. not was condemners’ the of ‘condemnation the whereas used, frequently was category injury’ of ‘self the of mixture the justifications, their In Monaghan. of findings or dopingmany categorycompetitors free were caught use substances. to banned away. profit the and audience the thus and bodybuilders muscular most the keeps testing because interests, their serve not does clearly it But tests. doping arrange to category master’s the in test doping no is (bodybui there me, told Emily as hand, other the On use. steroid promote would competition bodybuilder a that acceptable not is it officially So So the prevalence of steroid use was not denied by my interviewees, similarly to the the to similarly interviewees, my by denied not was use steroid of prevalence the So lders older than 40), and promoters who organize the championships are responsible responsible are championships the organize who promoters and 40), than older lders qe oy dsusd in discussed body, sque ing

their health. The possible influences of steroid use on the social environment, social the on use steroid of influences possible The health. their

and a higher prevalence higher and a A liberal framework was framework liberal A visible forms. visible

even more dangerous such as the case o case the as such dangerous more even g wih r ascae wt te rmnlzto o the of criminalization the with associated are which ugs chapter I think it can be nicely connected to the hypervisibility of of hypervisibility the to connected nicely be can it think I

in the case of male bodybuilding. Moreover, focusing Moreover, casebodybuilding. focusing ofmale in the

applied eid in denied Ide, s oe 19) ons u, etn for testing out, points (1998) Lowe as Indeed, . 46 be enormously muscular, even though it might it though even muscular, enormously be

to legitimize the use of banned substances banned of use the legitimize to ms of) (most importance h case the f younger boys who starts starts who boys younger f

of other manifestations of other of - person fulfillment’ and ‘denial ‘denial and fulfillment’ Besid s

es, in the natural the in es, taking them. them. taking f professional of

Thus the Thus

had In CEU eTD Collection body. present halfofthe the approximately be bodycan the drown distortion, image seriousbody a Inof the case life 22 the are dysmorphia muscle for following: criteria diagnostic The category. dysmorphia body the individual. the the between discrepancy a was there small. too be to themselves saw still body muscular their of despite them of some that nervo anorexia to (1993) 2. Exercise addiction possibility totheactivityaddicted therigorous ofbeing exercise thebody. itself,to of follows, what In bodybuilders.

The most objective technique to evaluate the body image distortion of prisoners is to ask them to draw their their draw to them ask to is prisoners of distortion image body the evaluate to technique objective most The - size contours on contours size areas functioning. of causes musculature or size body clinically significant of inadequacy the about preoccupation The (3) or others, enduresto withmarked only suchsituations orintense anxiety. distress exposed is body her or his where situations avoids individual The (2) diet and workout her or his maintain schedule. to need compulsive a of because activities occupationa social, important up gives frequently individual The (1) and The preoccupation bythemanifested at is following leastfour of two criteria: weights lifting of hours long excessive attention todiet. include behaviors associated muscular. and lean Characteristic sufficiently not is body one’s that idea the with Preoccupation The diagnostic category of muscle dysmorphia was first described by Pope et al. al. et was and Pope by described first was dysmorphia muscle of category diagnostic The

called Because of the body image distortion, later the diagnosis was located within located was diagnosis the later distortion, image body the of Because sa. a white wall (Fiáth et al., 2010 al., et (Fiáth wall white a

Pope et al. conducted researches amonconductedresearchesal. Popeet

‘reverse anorexia’, because it functioned in an opposite an in functioned it because anorexia’, ‘reverse distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important other occupationalor social, in impairment or distress

and and Muscle Dysmorphia

I would like to explore to like would I self - perceived and the ‘real’ or measurable body size body measurable or ‘real’ the and perceived ). Then the person is asked to stand in front of the drawing. drawing. the of front in stand to asked is person the Then ). 47

the way my interviewees negotiate the the negotiate interviewees my way the

g male bodybuilders, and observed and bodybuilders,gmale

l or recreational or l

way compared compared way

So of of

CEU eTD Collection label. stigmatizing using boys 24 teenage of case the 23 in critical more much was She subchapter. previous the described and Emily by used bodybuilder the of image counter the out point to like would it. of meaning the creating person the of and occurs practice body the exercising practice fasting the whether that suggests quotation This of dilemma similar a expresses diagnosingpathology: a as practice practices fasting denying health and enhancing health sportsmen. competitive among observable easily is out work cannot person the when annoyed getting activities, other disorder. eating an of signs the merely in role great a plays o specificities the dieting constitute to seem practices these So aim. this and achieving muscles, the of improvement the on is bodybuilding and disorder muscl diagnosing in distortion image body the prevalence. highest the shows group this that surprising

A s A 4th ed., text rev.; 4thed., of body dis dysmorphic forms other in as appearance of aspects other with only preoccupation primary a or anorexia nervosa, as fatin ofbeing fear distinguished from as inadequately muscular, primar The performance use or diet out, work to substancesor psychological despite knowledge ofadverse physical consequences. continues individual The (4) imilar argument could be made to diagnose many researchers with workaholism with researchers many diagnose to made be could argument imilar desire inallthree common a clearly is There practice. the of meaning the constructing in involved socio the on depending therapeutic, or pathological experien to desire secularized of expressive practice a is fasting some, for that appears “It ic te igotc aeoy a cetd y eerhn bdbidr, t s not is it bodybuilders, researching by created was category diagnostic the Since ce an expanded state of consciousness, that is then reconstructed as either either as reconstructed then is that consciousness, of state expanded an ce

the fcs f h pecuain n bhvos s n en sal or small being on is behaviors and preoccupation the of focus y

DSM -

obsessive

– is pathological or therapeutic is a question of the context in which the which in context the of question a is therapeutic or pathological is IV 24 practices to expand and extend the limits ofthebody.” the and limits toexpand extend practices –

TR Jo Nash (2006 Nash Jo order. ; America

- oplie opnns problematic. components compulsive 23

n Psychiatric Association, 2000. 2000. Association, nPsychiatric On the other hand, e hand, other the On , 323 , 48 ) b e dysmorphia, because dysmorphia, e

searching for common motivations behind motivations common for searching

- I think the key component remains remains component key the think I

- or in the case of case the in or cultural context and who is is who and context cultural xercise addiction, the sacrifice of of sacrifice the addiction, xercise In order to demonstrate this, I this, demonstrate to order In

I find I for example for

h epai in emphasis The f the sport, and not and sport, the f bodybuilding -

both the eating the both enhancing

, mayb ,

e a less less a e the the

in in

CEU eTD Collection interviewees ofattach notion muscle dysmorphia: tothe opinion. Daniel’s dysmorphia, emphasized. anorexia) of case the in intervention medical or itself end an has bodybuilding in dieting dramatic the anorexia, to contrast perception realistic thus person, the of size body the about feedback strong very a give must it competitions, in categorized strictly is body someone’s If himself. contradicts Daniel then t we If bodybuilder. good a being of prognosis best the is addiction exercise and dysmorphia muscle of combination the him, to According of context precond necessary a is it but desirable, only not is addict exercise an kids. the by done when altered were the different was only context not that admit also must I bodybuilders. competitive with was she than steroids The best combination if itif combination bestThe [….] competitor. a as somewhere in categorized strictly always are “You Daniel: not in thebadnot in sense word. ofthe [smile] why that than better was I shouldn’t says (s)he competitions, won already has who one good a was (s)he and bodybuilder a was (s)he If one. lower a with satisfied be to hard is it then level,achievesonceasomeone when Itlike, is perceives outsider it. th as muscular, that not Iam oh says: (s)he and mirror the into looks bodybuilder the it, about talked we as because just addiction, an cause can it say I “So Attila: hug a that is know you This and end, there be it. will one.” a new an has always in it life, component] of periods [time other from differently date a always is There being com a successful what is considered to be a valuable characteristic of a good bodybuilder in in bodybuilder good a of characteristic valuable a be to considered is what T

he aforementioned two arguments decrease the possibility of muscle muscle of possibility the decrease arguments two aforementioned he I continue, why shouldn’t I do it… so I think it causes addiction. But But addiction. causes it think I so it… do I shouldn’t why continue, I The contradiction can be explored if w if explored be can contradiction The f i o hr body. her or his of

n hs to ae discussed cases two these in

[muscle dysmorphia][muscle petitiveD athlete. On the other hand, all my interviewees stated that being that stated interviewees my all hand, other the On ail luiae aohr motn pit ht in that point important another illuminates Daniel 49

ake the official criteria of muscle dysmorphia, dysmorphia, muscle of criteria official the ake

anie

in is coupled with an addiction. [….] [….] addiction. an with is coupled l goes further:l one even step

e sec: h practic the speech: her s te ie opnn ms be must component time the so , e have a look at the meanings my my meanings the at look a have e ition

(which is usually death death usually is (which

e difference: difference: e in the occupational occupational the in it strengthen s themselves es

e s

the CEU eTD Collection cognitivelyemotionally. and th I grotesque. alrea I as months within body this to happen changes Enormous shape. competition desired the to body present her compares bodybuilder evaluation dissatisfaction of feeling the so time, of period short a from now but here, angle. different relevant again is practices bodybuilding of component time The following quotation: the outsider. for big too and bodybuilder, the of eye the in enough big not is which body muscular of evaluation the but bodybuilders, non and bodybuilders between different is body the of perception the not excerpt, this in So way. realistic a in body her or his of size the perceive non a ofstandards the standards own her or his to according muscles her or his improve too) bodybuilde the of muscles the see to likely is In Attila’s account

means by muscle dysmorphia is more like the continuous attempt of the bodybuilder to bodybuilder the of attempt continuous the like more is dysmorphia muscle by means olnt e go bdbidr n hs es, eas I o’ lk being like don’t I because sense, this in bodybuilder unsatisfied.” good I a […] maintained. be be can which wouldn’t state a not is it because case, shape. the competition truly her is or This his to compared fat is (s)he that it, of result a be will body person’s the But nice. absolutely look still they think I But the of outside bodybuilder a of body 20kg. be can the difference whom for them, are somecompetition of period, there the at look you If image. body different competition a in be always cannot “You Emily: dfeet id f istsato ws etoe b Eiy ht a b ra i the in read be can that Emily by mentioned was dissatisfaction of kind different A

f h body the of n teecags r o quick so are changes these ink The competition shape of the bodybuilder can be maintained only for a very very a for only maintained be can bodybuilder the of shape competition The

the desire for muscularity is judged from muscularity for isjudged desire the

- b odybuilder)

ae by made

. Itmean doesn’t . h bdbidr n a outsider an and bodybuilder the r 50 , that , being

y etoe we dsusn te female the discussing when mentioned dy

it must be a challenge to handle it both it handle to challenge a be must it that the bodybuilder would not be able toable be not bodybuilderthe would that already too big. What Attila What big. too already is frequent among bodybuilders. The The bodybuilders. among frequent is shape. You know it is a fully fully a is it know You shape.

the viewpoint of the outsider who who of theoutsider the viewpoint

(which strongly differ from from differ strongly (which

s gi different again is

image distortion distortion image

(and Daniel (and : the the :

the the CEU eTD Collection attach tothe practicefemale bodybuilding. of Haraway Donna by described cyborg ab think to relationship close bodybuilder’s faster. run to is purpose build to analogy bodybuildin between reached inevitabl training a completes bodybuilder the effectively how noteworthy bodybuilding of practice the thus what very important it I comparison. for her to next stand people when is she muscular how perceives she hand, want Nora themirrorinto whilegetting looking from gains she emotions positive the excerpt following the in communicates Nora difference the musculature, [in insize]…” a is there see I me, to next stand people if But [….] bigger. be to myself perceive to like would I and day, every myself see I indeed So mirror. the from back looks the shaped being to is person close the and already competition, are we when thing, Another control. for perfect absolutely is It way. good a in practice the complete to able be to order in actually So down. arms, my hold I how check: work my during mirror the in myself watching like “I Nora:

huge muscles, the mirror the hugemuscles, in preparing for the competition. So following the logic of Choi (2003) related to the the to related (2003) Choi of logic the following So competition. the for preparing in out the possible connection between the female bodybuilder and the notion of the the of notion the and bodybuilder female the between connection possible the out e to perform the right motions right the perform to e s to achieve a bigger body size that must be strange to the outsider. On the other other the On outsider. the to strange be must that size body bigger a achieve to s that Nora emphasizes the role of the mirror as a tool to have a visual feedback on feedback visual a have to tool a as mirror the of role the emphasizes Nora that thoughts she formulates about the mirror. The notion of t of notion Themirror. the about formulates she thoughts

In the next chapter, I will start my discussion by exploring the female the exploring by discussion my start will I chapter, next the In closer closer g and running, I would say thatinbodybu Igwould running, and

to her competition shape:to her competition another instrument: the power the instrument: another s the same function as the stop the as function same the s are how I hold my shoulder, how long should I let it it let I should long how shoulder, my hold I how

(1991)

. On the other hand, other the On . fe cnetd o acsim Teeoe t s very is it Therefore narcissism. to connected often , and to explore the meanings my i my meanings the explore to and , 51

, then because [laugh] she likes what what likes she [laugh] because then , practice. On the one hand, the mirror is is mirror the hand, one the On practice.

it can also show show also can it

watch in running where the the runningwhere in watch machine. machine. - out. I simply must must simply I out. ilding where the aim is whereilding the This how far she has has she far how he mirror, and and mirror, he

nterviewees nterviewees leads me to me leads find

CEU eTD Collection 25 enduranceand her hand, is firm.Onthe other body her of composition and touch the muscles, iron has she hard; rock is body her hand, one bodyb female the in found be can machine the that argue I us”, is machine “the unfeminine. be to considered is weight with squatting now Even females”. to “appropriate be to seen not was it because supported, not was machines” in pleasure “intense their place”, of “out as seen were there out work to dared who Women (1 Lowe by conne be can quotation In this understanding, my Haraway (1991). Donna by described cyborg the of notion the with comparisons some make to opportunity, wit relationship intimate an in is bodybuilder female instrument another is There motions. her of preciseness the and body, her of changes by surrounded interpretation possible a of concerns life: V

Heywood (1998) (1998) Heywood I . adays, working with heavy weights, or doing certain exercises such as bench press or or press bench as such exercises certain doing or weights, heavy with working adays, out of place could we take intense pleasure in machines, and then with excuses with wasthat this organic activity afterall,tofemales.” appropriate (180) then and machines, in pleasure intense take we could place of out bein by Only embodiment extensions. metaphoric its female and mothering in and skill mean to necessary; seemed organic, given, be to seemed embodiment female time), a upon (once now till Up they. are we boundaries; for domina responsible not do they machines; for responsible be can We embodiment. our of aspect an processes, our us, is machine The dominated. embodi i pleasure “Intense The cyborgian female bodybuilder and the existential existential the and bodybuilder female cyborgian The s dsusd n h peiu catr te iue f h fml bdbidr is bodybuilder female the of figure the chapter, previous the in discussed I As 9) ht h wih ro o te y ws uh gender a such was gym the of room weight the that 998) et Te ahn i nt an not is machine The ment. mirrors in the gym which can give her a strong feedback about the continuous the about feedback strong a her give can which gym the in mirrors also mentions this possibility, but she does not go into any detail in her book. book. her in any detail into notgo does she mentions but also possibility, this 25

As Haraway eloquently writes:

n skill, machine skill, ceases to be sin, but an aspect of of aspect an but sin, be to ceases skill, machine skill, n

her capacity her totolerate 52

it to be animated, worshipped, and and worshipped, animated, be to it cted to the historical phenomenon historical cted tothe

h: the power the h: Similarly to the statement of Haraway: of statement the to Similarly

e r hetn s W are We us. threaten or te

machine. T machine. monotony in her training training inher monotony

- segregated space. space. segregated his gives me the the me gives his uilder. On the the On uilder.

mentioned what the what g CEU eTD Collection ofnotion power: bodybuilding. express focused on thin bodybuilding: about said Emily what with harmony in is This boundaries. gender the confuse might regeneration whose bodybuilder, regrown the think our for possibilities the gender.” without world monstrous a forhope the of dream utopian the include and reconstitution rebirth, not regeneration, require We profoundly. injured, [ limb regrown further using without high muscularity them. level of Moreover, otherwise. possible not be By machines,the thehelp of muscle groups only is can artificiallygreatwomen: andcause afor possible, this pleasure remind k it is a story of self of story a is it k yearswork.” of th The with comes flexed. it muscle, is one purely everything on scapula, concentrate cannot back, person their practice, biceps simple a doing are we when that trainees personal my on it see I and developed, not are muscles th womencase of in I think work.make to I want what works muscle that exactly that is bodybuilding in love really I “What Emily: the muscles, so I think this was the reason. That was the story. My boyfriend at at soI too, the time didit towork started out.” boyfriend My story. the was That reason. the was this think I so muscles, the always are power of symbols the And everything. so mountains, huge the waters, e the love I nature, in everything: In power. loved always have “I Emily:

y w itriwe dd o rpr ta kn o eprecs bt oh f them of both but experiences, of kind that report not did interviewees two My ed once t te yoga agmn. s aaa cnius 19, 181): (1991, continues Haraway As argument. cyborgian the to connected me of of me

h feig f nacd self enhanced of feeling the the self h meanin The a f salamanders of

el ucinn mcie Bsds th Besides, machine. functioning well monstrous limb can take the form of huge muscles in the case of the female female the of case the in muscles huge of form the take can limb monstrous - healing potentialof bodybuilding.

- defense.” Eiy tahd o h dsr fr en muscular being for desire the to attached Emily g isolated ]

can be monstrous, duplicated, potent. We have all been been all have We potent. duplicated, monstrous, be can

Similarly, Heywood (1998) as a survivor of sexual sexual of survivor a as (1998) Heywood Similarly, training body certain be can achieved parts of thatwould bodybuilders could by no means achieve the desired desired the achieve means no by could bodybuilders - ofdne ad strong and confidence, “Somebody grows fat, somebody grows muscles. I muscles. grows somebody fat, grows “Somebody 53 The meaningThe thi of

e connection between nerves and and nerves connectionbetween e e isolated improvement of certain certain of improvement isolated e s hypermuscular body be can - iddes s rsl of result a as mindedness e many e normous normous

included the the included - many many

abuse “The “The

CEU eTD Collection separation. of experience first the of moment the at happens fear” “death and fear” “life between (n.d.) Rank Otto of distinction meaninglessness. and isolation freedom, death, (1980) activity. the of interpretation bodybuilding. practicing th for search to order in psychology, existential of representative imagination to the enhanced senseself of hours.” 60 till up hours 24 from last sometimes can non about is It life. your for struggling are you there extremity, an is period “half almost is bodybuilder the championship, the experiences bodybuilder thecompetitive when facesdeath bo the of strengthening the of result the only hypermuscularity. practi ongoing different of learning the through transformed these (1999) Monaghan to According kilograms. of couple a lose prov is activity the start to impetus final the scenario: frequent most the is this (1998) Lowe to According (Daniel). brother emphasi be can boyfriend her of role The

is the conceptualization of anxiety as a response to the four final concerns of humans: of concerns final four the to response a as anxiety of conceptualization the is d to close so intentionally are bodybuilders that phenomenon The growth personal aforementioned The ok e t te y, n se a discovered was she and gym, the to her took . In what follows, I would like to apply the thoughts of Yalom (1980) who is a is who (1980) Yalom of thoughts the apply to like would I follows, what In . a ivleet n oyulig ed t te rdcin f oiain for motivations of production the to leads bodybuilding in involvement cal

ided by a male mentor. In the beginning, both women just wanted to wanted just women both beginning, the In mentor. male a by ided

f ore wa I what course, Of birth, which can be seen as the first trauma in the life of the person, person, the of life the in trauma first the as seen be can which birth, - strength ofbodybuilder

ao’ satn pit n i book his in point starting Yalom’s

ie er s n sne h cs o sadn ot rm the from out standing of cost the sense a in is fear Life zed. zed.

m on t discuss to going am 54 dy. In my opinion, i opinion, my In dy. accounted

n h cs o Nora, of case the In as o ok t hscl ois thus bodies, physical at look to ways - a ewe iead death, and life between way s inmy opinion. Writing about death, he borrows the the borrows he death, about Writing This victory This

later y h fml bdbidr, s not is bodybuilders, female the by . According to Daniel, on the day of According toDaniel, ontheday of by a male bodybuilder trainer trainer bodybuilder male a by e possible deeper meaning of of meaning deeper possible e

over death over

t can be also c also be can t . The prototype o prototype The . xseta Psychotherapy Existential here is only one possible possible one only is here

also a male figure, her her figure, male a also nta mtvtos are motivations initial eath grabbed my my grabbed eath

- might contribute might drinking, which which drinking, onnected to onnected the diuretic the f life fear fear life f the the

CEU eTD Collection whic person” the of uniqueness the in faith “the called is version the puts and fusion, dependence, show to likely is person the case which in savior” final a of existence the in faith “the calls two differencebetween is fear death person, of pleasure (the gym the in herself machines). to dedicated hours herself: for “wastes” she time thi we if bodybuilder female the with compatible not is husband, the and children, the others, for care the with associated is which femininity of image closed. traditional is body their that respect the in but chapter, only not femininity bodybuilders female suggests quotation this As 16) bu individuality, hypervisible, out, stands She nothing. of fear the fusion, of fear the of instead Itt seems poles. two betweenthese auton whole. a into dissolve to something, environment. formulates: omy. The basic idea of the Yalom work is that the individual continuously oscillates oscillates continuously individual the that is work Yalom the of idea basic The omy. itrig eas te sad gis te bet pnes soitd with associated openness Maybe ‘gross what is this labels abject the against stone. a as stark reality a borders, some themselves give and femininity traditional stand they because disturbing ‘c around openness any mess me, with mess can’t you fixed are outlines my exist am do I here ‘I say They armored. are bodies Their space. up take bodybuilders “Female According to Yalom, even when life when even Yalom, to According

e hpruclr body hypermuscular her Death fear on the other hand is the fear the is hand other the on fear Death

ue ’ aray ee n Im aig t Fml bdbidr are bodybuilders Female it. saying I’m and here already I’m ause t it t

simultaneously separates her from the environment. As Heywood As environment. the from her separates simultaneously in the sense of of sense the in nvtbe nie everybod inside inevitable mechanisms

locus of the control outside of him of outside control the of locus o me, that the female bodybuilder chose to handle life fear,life handle to chose femalebodybuilder the that me, o universally used by people to deny death. One is what he he what is One death. deny to people by used universally hi ecsie uclrt a d as muscularity excessive their ’, ‘monstrous’, ‘ugly’,areabout. ‘unfeminine’ tcnb soitdwt uin ihgvn p your up giving with fusion, with associated be can It draws a thick boundary around her emphasizing her her emphasizing her around boundary thick a draws - fear is possibly more prevalent in the life of the of life the in prevalent more possibly is fear 55

i smwee ep down deep somewhere in y a b i opsto wt traditional with opposition in be can

of losing yourself, to be absorbed in absorbed be to yourself, losing of Being relational, so central to the the to central so relational, Being h refers to the invulnerability the to refers h

nk about the amount of of amount the about nk her presence is always always is presence her susd n h second the in iscussed -

or herself. The other other The herself. or . He makes a a makes He .

( 1998, 1998,

CEU eTD Collection 26 between body relationship complex the explore to like would I masses, the from out stand can and uniqueness, her construct can bodybuilder female nonbeing.” of fear the is others being of fear the and others, being of fear the is others like being of fear “The 170): (1998, Heywood of thought the with associated be can different be to desire The of self T (and shakes carbohydrate vitamins, supplements, nutrition of world a is it consumerism: with connection strong a in is Bodybuilding quotation. the of that actparadigms.” gender traditional liberatory subvert a is creation this and body, her constructing of act the through herself create to literally nothing, of out something create to chance the subject consumer the offer to constructabil and control, plasticity, of assumption “The similar: very something out re be can she that belief individual. this of e that claims advantage Yalom practice. reported often an is time the of structuring the time, free of possibility and work hard The dominates. mechanism hands. her or his in is control the the of

h One can think of the phenomenon of the phenomenon of One canthink

rough the intake of these products these of intake the rough the person, to the belief that (s)he is not the one who can die at any moment. According to According moment. any at die can who one the not is (s)he that belief the to person, the

description, this person is more likely to be narcissistic, obsessive, strong,obsessive, narcissistic, be likelyto more is person this description, builder and builder she might find it in that. Ishe might that. in don’t findit then And people. many or different, be to wants everybody way, some “In Emily: - creation in order to beperson uniqueinwhich hasfaith. to the creation a inorder 26 After After

On the other hand, the person who has faith in her own uniqueness gives up the up gives uniqueness own her in faith has who person the hand, other the On

the possibility of anotherthe possibility concern, of isolation. final the discussion of bodybuilding as the freedom for self for freedom the as bodybuildingof discussion the

- created by created xactly free time is the moment when death anxiety occurs to the to occurs anxiety death when moment the is time free xactly

the the Sunday neurosis, widely discussed in psychology. psychology. in discussed widely neurosis, Sunday someone, other than herself. than other someone,

think therethink isanything pathological this.” in and tik n h cs o te oyule ti defense this bodybuilder the of case the in think I Now I would like t like would I Now the rigorous exercise, bodybuilding becomes an act an becomes bodybuilding exercise, rigorous the h ln hus pn i te gym the in spent hours long the 56

h near the o focus on the following elements elements following the on focus o in some cases illicit substances). illicit cases some - Heywood (1998, 63) (1998, Heywood

et exp death As Emily said: - creation by which the which by creation eriences of the the of eriences

and (s)he thinks (s)hethinks and erae the decreases

ity seem seem ity points - CEU eTD Collection (2004). spiritualchanges 5) in life new 4) possibilities here) veryrelevant is ofbodybuilders case experiencing with parallelly but strength, personal increased of sense general meaningful 3) and relationships intimate more 2) life for appreciation increased 1) changes: following the show can person the wh Calhoun, and Tedeschi to According perspective. cognitive 27 can be long previously priorities the in person the on influences has book, Yalom the in situation they can intheshadow of fusionwithothers death. diets, killing most the through went who and “ adversary. her be might others the that anymore count not does it water, and food of lack the of result the mind, of state altered this In childhood. early in experienced unity lost the relive ex her of verge the on competition, the of moments these in and increased, is belong to need bodybuilder’s the death, to near Being groupmoved toinclude ofpeople a reports: Daniel instead. As contouring is andbeothercan individual, her thesymbolical close human beings border tothe ofsense boundaries the pushing are They time. of period significant a for intake water The m The

In the growing literature of Posttraumatic Growth, there are very similar topics being discussed from a a from discussed being topics similar very are there Growth, Posttraumatic of literature growing the In be anxious. The others will be like little children. belikelittle The be othersEverybody anxious. will loveseverybody, and will onlydiuretics not used who competitors competition, a in yougobackstage If “ Daniel: few thingstorture more serious thanwaterlessness.” being to impossible things are there So competitors. prepared most the only by understood is this But as well. others the all for but herself, or him only not of fears has everybody and life, is everybody deepened. Near without functioning of risk serious the undertaking by death ridicule Bodybuilders ost prepared competitors” are those are competitors” prepared ost the limits of the body, but also in the sense of the symbolical borders of that body.that So of symbolical borders sensethe the of in also the body,but of limits the - death experience or or experience death The diuretic period is an extremity, there you are struggling for your life. your for struggling youare extremity,there an is period diuretic The 27

I appearsthis ofNoraas inthespeech thefollowing: think so really happy for the other. Everybody is struggling for his or her her or his for struggling is Everybody other. the for happy really so directing directing

be spoken about, but it must be experienced. There are only a a only are There experienced. be must it but about, spoken be

her life can be revised, and changed. and revised, be can life her facing strongly the possibility of death, what is called border called is what death, of possibility the stronglyfacing istence in a regressive state, state, regressive a in istence who were able to able were who 57 and thus their boundaries start to dissolve and dissolve to start boundaries their thus and

o created the term, after a near a after term, the created o miss the most amount of water, of amount most the miss

Her personal relationships personal Her despite her fears her despite - em u to The too. run term

- not only in the in only not vulnerability (the (the vulnerability death experience experience death

she can she CEU eTD Collection interest toward the analysis of ascetic practices, because they were also regulatory regulatory also were they because practices, ascetic of analysis the toward interest 163). (1950, Wacquant to by according physicality” of religion profane “the called was clearly th of one as considered also be can bodybuilding think (317). exists” God not or whether interested not are and is, soul their what of conception clear no consumers…have the of “most when society, bourgeois secularized, a in spiritualities light on living and Nash spiritualities. p are non so world, Western the in significance its lost has meaning He meaningless. is which world, Yal to arises according question basic the notion, this to Related meaninglessness. psychology: existential diet. her alone. t to capacity the have not does simply she sometimes that me, told Nora as implies, also energy of lack The relationships. superficial more from doing. or telling worth is what rethink you training, and diet hard your to due energy of lack constant in are you If revalent. is nothing theyare talkingItwasteenergy…” about. aof is me. noticed made not had I that it Daniel told I So [laughs] least at or angry, you makes it And about. talking are they what of nothingness the realize simply You me! irritates chatting the and approaching… g dress, changemy Ito therewantingwas And happenedwhom. what to whom, with what did who about there chatting were girls the and room locker the to went “I Nora:

The bodybuilder has a very concretThe bodybuilderavery has an She continuously sets up goals. This leads me to examine the last final concern in in concern final last the examine to me leads This goals. up sets continuously She

ascetic lifestyle, but has no religious connotation in our present time, except time, present our in connotation religious no has but lifestyle, ascetic the the t te training, the to o I would like to connect this tendency to the work of Jo Nash (2006) on mutant on (2006) Nash Jo of work the to tendency this connect to like would I m hw oen wo erhs o a enn cn id maig n a in meaning a find can meaning a for searches who someone how om: Schippert

y xmnn fsig rcie i te om f nrxa breatharianism, anorexia, of form the in practices fasting examining by rus that argues h hf i tepro’ worldview person’s the in shift The

article erse siiult cms ak n the in back comes spirituality repressed states that in our present time, the importance of religious of importance the time, present our in that states eas I kne I because

(2 0) i 007) e goale every day te n o hs ie Fual soe growing showed Foucault life, his of end the n 5 8

I ut o t te optto is competition the it, do must I w it earlier, but now it appears that it it that appears it now but earlier, it alk to anyone, she learnt to enjoy being enjoy to learnt she anyone, to alk mutant e : to fulfill her training plan, to keep tokeep training her plan, tofulfill : ca n result in her moving away moving her in result n -

religious personal meanings personal religious

prtaiis bcue t is it because spiritualities, om f mutant of form

Moreover, what what

I CEU eTD Collection is one that everything become to is, one what more and more become to desire the as phrased is he what in actualized become to him for tendency the actualization self is needs the of top the On bottom. the in located are clothing and sleep, shelter, water, the on discussion bodybuilder. female my to related important found I what out point to like would I (1943). actualization. this in practices ascetic these (210). achievement” and e exertion, struggle, of that “more carries it passivity, as considered be cannot malleability of kind this Therefore something. learn to order in relationships hierarchical highly in involved bodybu the (or pianist the of case the in as taught, be to ability the as conceptualized be can Docility agency. for required something agency,but of lack or abandonment the not is docilitywhere bodybuilder; Ithe example ofthe but virtuosopianist, he think discipline. 1995). (Russo, grotesque non rigorous inqueering body,hyp thebodyresults perfecting results inafreakish the is, disciplines modern of effect that unlike whose discipline ascetic an of possibility the short, in discloses, morality sexual h when further step one goes func but mechanisms,

to queer.” So if I translate it to the case of bodybuilding, it can mean that the highly highly the that mean can it bodybuilding, of case the to it translate I if So queer.” to - normative body, a body I describe I body a body, normative The concept of self of concept The To demonstrate the relation between docility and agency, Mahmood agency, and docility between relation the demonstrate To

which according to the author refers to refers author the to according which

In the Maslow pyramid, the physiological needs such as breathin as such needs physiological the pyramid, Maslow the In indi ut ifrn way different quite a in tioned ilder), the person is exposed to disciplinary practices, and he or she is she or he and practices, disciplinary to exposed is person the ilder), Importantly, the person does not lose her agency in practicing self practicing in agency her lose not does person the Importantly, - actualization can be associated with the work of Abraham Maslow Abraham of work the with associated be can actualization e states ( states e

ae f non of case –

I argue that the aim of learning something, and to follo to and something, learning of aim the that argue I

is not to normalize. But, if anything, to marginalize: that marginalize: to anything, if But, normalize. to not is 1995, 111, cites 111, 1995, d

earlier by connecting it to th to it connecting by earlier - eiiu proa maig osrcin s self is construction meaning personal religious 59

r argument r betothe can figure applied ofthe

“the desire desire “the

as it was pointed out by Halperin. by out pointed was it as Schippert 2007): “The study of Greek Greek of study “The 2007): Schippert potentially. This tendency might be be might tendency This potentially. for self for e notion of the female the of notion e - fulfillment, namely, fulfillment,

er (2001) - muscular, muscular, g, food, food, g,

ffort, ffort, uses H w – e - - -

CEU eTD Collection excerpt: following the in caught be can it as it, recognized just person the and outside, from comes herself. individual w rope, a to on holding like is construction meaning self a is this and illusory, is order of sense the if even true, is it opinion my In life. of meaningfulness bodybuilding. female by to realize her inner possibilities. Self wants because she lives, bodybuilder female the life:meaning ofthe becomecan actualization for. striving worth life of purpose a bodybuilder, female the for possibility relevant pyramid the of bottom the in needs the of dissatisfaction the presupposes shape competition the of realization the be”, must she be, can she “what of logic the So intake. water and food no almost has she needs: physiological basic her of denial the because way, different a in function needs) cognitive esteem, the when self man a What happy. ultimately be to is he if write, mu A for. fitted is he what doing is becoming.” of capable - product of involvement”. of product - actualization. ie I o hl js a ta tm, wn h cmeiin js a ta tm, I time, that at thi many too were there things, just lucky such coincidences, competitions such are the these So time…[…] won that at I just Daniel time, meet to that happened at just help got I time, s developed life “My Nora: As

- imposed system they are living in. Yalom uses the metaphor the uses Yalom in. living are they system imposed

te lwr ed (hsooia, aey n scrt, oe n blnig self belonging, and love security, and safety (physiological, needs lower other Yalom eloquently writes (1980, 378): “The sensation of the meaning of life is the the is life of meaning the of sensation “The 378): (1980, writes eloquently Yalom ” (383) In (383) ” o vi ti dsoey i i mr cmotbe o eiv ta te aim the that believe to comfortable more is it discovery, this avoid To But these women by being dedicated to this practice could practice this to dedicated being by women these But

(383) He claims that self that claims He (383)

are satisfied. In the case of the bodybuilder, bodybuilder, the of case the In satisfied. are Maslow’s writings, the stage of self of stage the writings, Maslow’s So I think sometimes the outsider can hardly see any sense in in sense any see hardly can outsider the sometimes think I So

o much in this direction: I was just unemployed at that at unemployed just wasI direction: this in much o sician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must must poet a paint, must artist an music, make must sician her self her - 60 actualization is simultaneously associat simultaneously is actualization

ngs simultaneously at that time to make make to time that at simultaneouslyngs - actualization happens, actualization can

hich was thrown up to the air by the the by air the to up thrown was hich be, he be, must . - yemsuaiybcms a becomes Hypermuscularity actualization can be achieved becan actualization

be. This need we may call call may we need This be.

when when of

hs mechanisms these Frankl (n.d.): this (n.d.): Frankl “ the individual individual the increase the increase ed with ed - - CEU eTD Collection bodybuilderconnected forces. toextramundane becomes s the transcendental: slightly be can they religion, a of form the take don’t they if even that strong, so be can Yalom by described meanings personal of outside will a of manifestation the self her only not served it powerful: more easily, career bodybuilding more future her of version this accept To life her cho justify to position present her from retrospectively narrative her constructs Nora ices. As a 37 year 37 a As ices. see the conditions safe enough to be able to say that yes, I can give my child child my give can I yes, that say yearseverythingI 10later.But one.” wouldlike tohave to able be to enough safe conditions the see surely that developed it that happy am I and it, love think, I Anyway I that thing, this do me

regret , if I don’t have a family… but the world is si is world the but family… a have don’t I if , - old woman she counts with the possibility the with counts she woman old

as the if it were offered from somewhere above. above. somewhere from offered were it if ol o hmn ens Tu te non the Thus beings. human of world 61

she makes makes she eparated unique figure of the female the of figure unique eparated

way. I am happy, I will will I happy, am I way. - actualization, of not giving birth to a child. child. a to birth giving not of mply like this. I don’t don’t I this. like mply the eiiiain f her of legitimization

but it could be could it but - religious religious CEU eTD Collection risking even far, that go bodybuilders that happen can it how understand to wanted I where meaningful. which to somebody. with talking through is approaching of method significant a psychologist, a as but bodybuilders, to world the with communication of way primary the be might body was women bodybuilder widely analysis. why arises question The looks. body her way the by defined dominantly be can bodybuilder female the self The shape. competition desired the of achievements momentary the capture t after exist will picture the attempt an as hand, one the on interpreted be photographs good to attributed importance great a is death.of fear the to life,especially of questions existential VI

me to be at least a bit involved in the community of bodybuilders, and thus the activity the thus and bodybuilders, of community the in involved bit a least at be to me I . Conclusion . Conclusion previously The athletes’media female of topic the that is answer possible One discussed I chapter, previous the In investigated, as I mentioned in chapter II, and the implications of th of implications the and II, chapter in mentioned I as investigated,

I findings of the interviews directed the choice of theory used in the sixth chapter sixth the in used theory of choice the directed interviews the of findings

i nt hoe o ae h eaiain f hs rpeettos eta t my to central representations these of examination the take to choose not did seemed to be be to seemed

highlighted he person does not live anymore live not does person he rathe To meet bodybuilders face to face created an opportunity opportunity an created face to face bodybuilders meet To r by Patton (2001). Besides, (2001). Patton by

incomprehensible from outside became more and more more and more became outside from incomprehensible the way female bodybuilding can be related to the to related be can bodybuilding female way the (Haraway, 1991,150) construction.” their in responsibility the for the in pleasure “

62 This chapter [thesis] is an argument for for argument an is [thesis] chapter This to reach symbolic immortality in the sense that that sense the in immortality symbolic reach to

that must that

and exploring my (social) environment environment (social) my exploring and As my interviewees reported, there there reported, interviewees my As

ofso o budre and boundaries of confusion . On the other hand, photos can photos hand, other the On .

be taken of taken be altering the appearance of the of appearance the altering

representation has been been has representation

them. ese researches for researches ese - expression of of expression I think it can can it think I to

me, CEU eTD Collection or aging; of fears their death, of conceptions their about community methodology. critical. more been have would they sure am I case bodybuil female about but general, in use doping about different ask to useful more been Similarly, inquiry. future of object the be can This queer. the and grotesque the analysis phenomenonTo memadetoexplorethis from it possible different it angles. in approach clear a of presence the miss might one and criticized, be psychology in background my taste unique a gave to interdisciplinarity loyal remained I level some on positio perspective, to tend people nature constructed the rethink me made also figure This boundaries. (gender) confuse who bodybuilders female these women. (1995) Russo by described consist of 1980), (Yalom, psychology existential of frameworks the using by competitor bodybuilding literature existing the to main my think I bodybuilder. female the of case the to alter and accommodate to Itried what itself, theorywas point starting the parts, Inother goals. their fulfill to life their n. I found it exciting to use some of the theories I met while doing Gender Studies, but Studies, Gender doing while met I theories the of some use to exciting it found I n. hr i n ne t sy that say, to need no is There above the As : such as Foucault or Kristeva, more connections could have been explored between between explored been have could connections more Kristeva, or Foucault as such :

my attempt my h ‘laue n h cnuin f h boundaries’ the of confusion the in ‘pleasure the

react to those, who are outside of this created order. From a different different a From order. created this of outside are who those, to react

my opinion it would be also worth asking the the asking worth also be would it opinion my f hs budre, u rsosblt to responsibility our boundaries, these of - s written Haraway quotation indicates, I found pleasure in writing about about writing in pleasure found I indicates, quotation Haraway written

to connect the figure of the female bodybuilder female bodybuilder figure ofthe to connect the , and to consider t consider to and , eod h epaain f h dea the of explanation the beyond

interview questions such as asking male bodybuilders not not bodybuilders male asking as such questions interview

oe uhr cud ae bee have could authors more to my work. Of course, this eclectic use of th of use eclectic this course, Of work. my to he cyborgian (Haraway, 1991) characteristics of of characteristics 1991) (Haraway, cyborgian he 63

This is an important weakness of the the of weakness important an is This der’s steroid use in particular in which which in particular in use steroid der’s draw these lines, and the way way the and lines, these draw th and life struggle of the the of struggle life and th ees to refers icue t use to included n the to representatives odcig research a conducting

the female grotesque grotesque female the too. , pages of my thesis. thesis. my of pages

my disciplinary disciplinary my

it might have have might it contributions tik this think I eory can can eory

of in

this this the

CEU eTD Collection musculatureIfemale bodybuilder,could ofthe butit drawattention. hope and some keep thes bodybuilders female of control pages) community visiting not by and earplugs using continuously (by me around boundaries virtual muscles. dare extreme grotesque, th bodybuildersold with e ‘officially’ bodybuilder female oldest is s

o e independent be to

in order to be isolated enough to concentrate on my goal. my on concentrate to enough isolated be to order in hc mgt e o a well as not be might which female the of figure the introduce to wanted I thesis this In ly Similarly, d

human. but not necessarily pathological, on the one hand cyborgian, and on the other hand hand other the on and cyborgian, hand one the on pathological, necessarily not

u byn any beyond But uring the process of thesis writing, I writing, theprocesshadthe ofthesis tostrengthenuring ( the experiences and motivations of the 74 year 74 the of motivations and experiences the sprtd ad different and separated, ,

was very motivating motivating very was

doubt - structured, symmetrical, defined, and big, as the the as big, and defined, symmetrical, structured, , must , h d she s, 64

be interesting

mntae eomu persistence enormous emonstrates

rm e evrnet y growing by environment her from to

me ).

during the development of my my of development the during

The

bodybuilder, - self old - Ernestine Shepherd Shepherd Ernestine discipline and self and discipline symbolical and

who who

might be might and huge

she she -

CEU eTD Collection IV. Body a and woman Ifyouyes,bodybuilder? did how trythem? tosolve a both being of because difficulties or tensions any felt ever you Have 10. of kind advantagesyou9. What and disadvantages do experien you.to happened ever has it if stigmatization, or discrimination of experiences your about me Tell 8. you of kind relationship7. What do withmale have bodybuilders? compa perceived is bodybuilding bodybuilding? female way the of think you do What 6. an is your ideal5. Who bodybuilder in opinion? you means is 4. What to tobea bodybuilder? Identity II. youyouyour do 3. What (Who inwhichwayschanged? think, has are life now.) you2. How did engaged become withbodybuilding? youyou 1. Could who tellme about werestarting bodybuilding? before I. Motivation enough a in today, second time perhaps interview. yoask to like Iwould that things the on notes some make questions about different Youyou topics. have as time asI much them. like toanswer just will you ask will I bodybuilders. female Hungarian of experiences personal the in interested am I APPENDIX

: L ist of

Preliminary Q APPENDICES uestions

u more about later, if we haven’t got haven’t we if later, about more u

ce as a female bodybuilder?cea female as

red to male male to red

CEU eTD Collection Imagineyourself24. youyouyears How 30 who be? later. do will imagine your are23. What with bodybuilding future? plans the for years inHungary? think you do What 22. VI. Future you do 21. What of think thepopularitybodybuilding female of inHungary? are20. What of support/stigmatization? thesources world? 19. V. Context you18. How do experience thepossible stigmatizationasLesbian? being a that respect? in woman hypermuscular a being from derive disadvantages and advantages of kind What 17. the other sex? co got you have responses of kind What 16. your is 15. What beauty eitherorfemale? ideal male IV. Sexuality (training, life your of workplace,competition,going dating, out)? situations different in prefer you do appearance of kind What 14. youwhile using have you do thoughts and feeling of kind What muscular? that be to feel it does How 13. most your please me memorable competition experience! Tell competition? a after during, before, you to happens What 12. yours,of please. a me Describe youtrain? do How you have? body of do practiceskind What 11.

What is the difference in being a Hungarian bodybuilder compared to other parts of the the of parts other to compared bodybuilder Hungarian a being in difference the is What

r muscles? r muscles?

how the position of female bodybuilding will change in the next 20 20 next the in change will bodybuilding female of position the how

nsidering your look from people of the same or same the of people from look your nsidering 66

n average day averageday n CEU eTD Collection be eithe respond to aquestion or topic before proceeding. the During form). attached the i (see gift of deed a of delivery and execution the to prior prejudice without time any at interview the from withdraw can you However, interview. this in participation intervi between agreement the upon based time second a for repeated be can and hour half a and one approximately take will interview The 3. excerpts your and words may bequoted in scholarly and popular publications. publi general the of member Any University. European Central on available be will which Studies Gender 2. perceived support a female bodybuilder gets from relatives her and di friends; the concept health. of in prefer the samesex; the opposite,approaching or someone hypermuscular in fromthe bodycause female can you female appearances a of the day average ideal, an bodybuilder; female a beauty your competition; a of experience the competition; are a for preparing of process the bodybuilder; you if body your toward relationship stigmatizationexperiencesdiscrimination bo of outsideofand the insideand bodybuilders’female woman; a and bodybuilder a both be to means it what bodybuilding; in engaged youtopics main The Youd) are one of the coaches in female bodybuilding. Youc) are one of the leaders in female bodybuilding Youb) are male a bodybuilder being asked about female bodybuilding Youa) are one of the competitors in female bodybuilding Bodybuilders Oral History You Project. are being asked participate to because: FemaleHungarian of Study Case the of part a as interview an in participate to asked being are You 1. APPENDIX I triwyumyrqett tptercriga n ie odsus rcaiyhwyu ih to wish you how clarify or discuss to time any at recording the stop to request may you nterview The interview will be audio be will interview The In the event that you choose to withdraw during the interview, any tape made of the interview will interview the of made tape any interview, the during withdraw to choose you that event the In r givenr you to or destroyed, and no transcript will bemade of the interview. I: Informed Consent Form Consent I: Informed will be asked about are the following: what are the motivations of a woman to bewomanto a ofmotivations the are what following:the are aboutasked be will Research about - taped, transcribed, and parts of it will be quoted in my MA thesis in thesis MA my in quoted be will it of parts and transcribed, taped, InformedForm Consent we n itriwr Tee r n atcptd ik to risks anticipated no are There interviewer. and ewee - ie o pbi ad coal ue t h wbie f the of website the at use scholarly and public for line frn lctos te datgsdsdatgs the advantages/disadvantages the locations; fferent

Female Bodybuilders

c will have access to these interview these to access have will c

dybuilder community;dybuilder the

CEU eTD Collection Date ___/___/_____ Interviewee signature ______Interviewee ______PrintedName I participate to agree in this interview. Interviewer signature ______Dominika contact can e you procedures, or project research the Milanovich, student Gender of Studies at Centralthe European University, Budapest. about questions have you If 7. and the transcript will be housed elsewhere only with the permission of the interviewee. Milanovich, Dominika of possession the be will transcript the of copy one and photograph, tape, the gift, of deed the signing Upon 6. any other individual, the authorities willbe informed. as threat one’s to employability,a financialstanding, reputation, criminalcivil or liability 5. image bedestroyed. will ne Any you. to given be will photograph the of copies all project, the from withdraw -

mail: [email protected] Anonymity is provided by the use of pseudonyms. of use bythe provided Anonymity is confidential information confidential ih or emsin a htgah f o wl b tkn r orwd o dpiain I you If duplication. for borrowed or taken be will you of photograph a permission, your With

. In case of information indicating a threat to the life of the interviewee or interviewee the of life the to threat a indicating information of case In .

______

[email protected]

Personally identifiable information that might bemight informationidentifiablethatPersonally

. Further copies of the tape the of copies Further .

gative or digital or gative

willbe handled

kept in kept CEU eTD Collection (1995). R.W. Connell, Connel and women between differences visible maintaining matters: Muscle (2003). P.Y.L. Choi, Embser & M., A. J. Buysse, (Eds J. Butler, & S., Salih, In Insubordination. Gender and Imitation (2004). J. Butler, (1990). J. Butler, L. Boyle, (1993). S. Bordo, Differences: Gender Clocking (2008). C. A. Billings, (1984). M. Bakhtin, M. Atkinson, Lacan. Meets Bodybuilder Female The Muscle: and Sex (1996). D. Aoki, (2000). Association. Psychiatric American l , R. W. (1987). , R.W. 20) Flexin (2005). 2(4), Disorders. men. Photographes. Cover Guide Society, 18(1), Media Intercollegiate of Analysis Judith Butler Reader. Routledge. Quarterly, 32(1/2), Bodybuilding. Competitive in Femininity Normative Negotiate Press. (cites 1998). Heywood, 441. 1996 1995). Russo, London.Connecticut,

(2009). (2009).

- 59 Sexualiti 2006 Summer and Winter Olympics. Winter and Summer 2006 nerbe Weight. Unbearable edr rul. eiim n t and Feminism Trouble. Gender - 74. Rabelais and His World. His and Rabelais

(4 aterud Sports. Battleground Masculinities. Gender andPower. (cites Jagodzinksi, 2003) Jagodzinksi, (cites th g the Tensions of Female Muscularity: How Female Bodybuilders Bodybuilders Female How Muscularity: Female of Tensions the g es, Evolutions &es, Evolutions Gender, 5.2August,

66 ed., text rev.).ed., text - - 81. ebr, . . 20) Cntutos f edr n pr: An Sport: in Gender of Constructions (2004). S. M. Herbert, Women and (SpringWomen Sports

Malden, MA: Blackwell,Malden, 119

Bibliography Berkeley:University CaliforniaPress. of

ekly n Ls nee: nvriy f California of University Angeles: Los and Berkeley

Stanford: Stanford UniversityStanford: Press.

Volume 1 and 2. Greenwood Press, Westport, Westport, Press, Greenwood 2. and 1 Volume 69 igotc n Saitcl aul f Mental of Manual Statistical and Diagnostic

Bloomington: Indiana University Press. (cites (cites Press. University Indiana Bloomington:

e uvrin f Identity. of Subversion he Televised Olympic Clock Time in the in Time Clock Olympic Televised

eeiin e ei, 9(5), Media, New & Television - Summer 2005),Summer 134 -

137. 71 - 81.

Women’s Studies Women’s Body & Society, Society, & Body -

149.

edr and Gender

e York: New

. ).

429 The - CEU eTD Collection Bodybuil of Federation International Miming, Excess: (2003). Feign Performative BodiesJagodzinski, Women'sJ. of (1998). L. Heywood, Socialist and Technology, Science, Manifesto: Cyborg A (1991). D. Haraway, Halperin, C. Guérandel, (2007). A. Gál, Gáldiné (Ed.). J. Strachey, In Uncanny. the On (n.d.). S. Freud, (2010). S. Rózsa, & K., Sebestyén, A., Nemszilaj, T., Fiáth, Wome on Ceiling Gless A Negotiating Back": "Holding (2001). L. S. Dworkin, Intro (2003). S. Y. Lincoln, & K. N. Denzin, Denzin, N.K.(2001). L. Crolley, . (1995). D. ,

Strengths. Interpreting QualitativeMaterials. K., N. Denzin, In Research. 42(2), País. El and Marca in Athletes http://www.ifbb.com/amarules/IFBBRulebook_2006 8(1), Phallus. the Rejecting and Rutgers University Press. of Nature. In Century. Twentieth Late the University Press. International Review the for Sociology 42(2), ofSport, of PhysicalSciences, Sport and Budapest. Education 21 the Magyarországon 1953 Freud. Sigmund imageaddictionin the andsteroidworld exercise ofprison.] use disorder, börtönvilágban. a szteroidhasználat és & Teso, E. (2007). Gendered Naratives Gendered (2007). E. Teso, & ,

- 23 1974, Vol.17,233 Mneo, . 20) Gne Cntuto i Jd Interactions. Judo in Construction Gender (2007). C. Menneson, &

th th 149 - Century in Hungary.]in Century 41.

- Sociological Perspectives, 44(3), Interpretative Interactionism. New York: Routledge. 149 oyaes utrlAaoyo Wmns Bodybuilding. Women's of Anatomy Cultural a Bodymakers: 166. an Fual: oad a a Hagiography. Gay a Towards Foucault: Saint

pr é traam nm 2. zzd ljn mda tükrében média a elején század 21. a nem társadalmi és Sport

. [Sport and Gender Refle Gender and [Sport . (c odn Hgrh rs ad h Isiue o Psychoanalysi for Institute the and Press Hogarth London: ites Schippert - ding (IFBB). (2009). (IFBB). ding 238. (cites 1995). Russo,

Journal for the Psychoanalysis of Culture & Society, Society, & Culture of Psychoanalysis the for Journal

Norman, K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (E S. Y. Lincoln, & K., Norman,

PhD Dissertation, PhD Siamians, Cyborgs Siamians, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Sport, of Sociology the for Review International , 70 2007).

London: 1 Sage,

- uto. neig h Fed f Qualitative of Field the Entering duction. 181.

Börtö London: 98 Sage.

in Spain: The Representation of Female Female of Representation The Spain: in

c 333 The Standard Edition of the Works of of Works the of Edition Standard The ted by the Media the by ted n IFBB Rulebook. IFBB gi Szemle, ügyi - 350. 350. Testképzavar, testedzésfüggőség Testképzavar, Semmelweis

- and Women: The Reinvention Reinvention The Women: and

17. - 2007Edition.pdf

167

- - 118. 118. 186.

29(2), New York: Oxford Oxford York: New

ds.).

in University Downloaded from Downloaded

t he beginning of beginning he

Collecting and Collecting ing, Refusing,ing, 59 - n's Muscular n's Feminism in Feminism

- 8 [Body 68.

, London: Faculty s, s, : CEU eTD Collection Sport in Women (2010). G. Pfister, Judging Hard": "Rock (2001). C. Patton, Hunger the and Body’ ‘Fasting The Age: Secular a in Spiritualities Mutant (2006). J. Nash, among use steroid illicit for motive of Vocabularies (2002). L. Monaghan, Project. Variable A Body': Perfect 'The Creating (1999). L. Monaghan, Wrestling and Bras, Sport Silence, (2003). C. Cooky, & C., M. Duncan, A., M. Messner, (2001).Mahmood, S. Maslow, A. (1943). ATheory ofHuman Motivation. (2004). C. Lewis, (1998). R. M. Lowe, big of promise the seeing and art, as Life (2007). F. Linder, Sport. Televised in Narrative Gendered Gentlemen: and Boys Bad (2000). E. Kennedy, (1963). W. Kayser, J. Stein, & J., Frueh, M., S. Forman, L., Fierstein, B., Doogan, A., Blanchette, A., J. Kaplan, Pages: Sports the in Powerful versus Pretty (1999). J. Jackson, & J., A. Murrell, R., Jones, International Review the for Sociology 35(1), ofSport, Press. (cites 1995). Russo, (2000). Picturing Amazon. theModern Teams. &Journal ofSport Social Winning Medal Gold Olympic Women's U.S. of Coverage Media Print Society, 13(2), Issues, 25(2), forImmanence. Pure &Social Science 55, Medicine, 3), &Social Issues, 27(1), Spo Televised in Women Porn: Islamicon theEgyptianRevival. (reported nonfiction) Definition. 34(3), 267

451 - prig dms i: h Clue f eae oyules n Am in Bodybuilders Female of Culture The Rib: Adam’s Sporting 290. h Goeqe n r ad Literature. and Art in Grotesque The

Feminist Theory, Embodiment, and the Docile Agent: Some Reflections Some Theory,Agent: DocileFeminist andthe Embodiment, -

472. New York: York New University Press. oe o Sel Fml Bdbidr ad h Srgl fr Self for Struggle the and Bodybuilders Female Steel: of Women

118 234

- 140. - 248. . Journal ofReligionandHealth, 45(3),Journal The Massachusetts Review

- Issues, 23(2), 51.

gender relations and future perspectives. perspectives. future and relations gender

h Fml Physique. Female the 695 rts News and Highlights Shows. Shows. Highlights and News rts Cultural Anthropology,Cultural 16(2), 71 - 708.

Art Journal, 59(4),Art Journal,

183 Psychological Review, 50, Psychological Review,

- 192.

loigo: I Bloomington:

45.4 (Winter 200445.4 (Winter

bodies. bodies.

Journal of Sport & Social Social & Sport of Journal 59 -

73. 80 American Ethnologist, Ethnologist, American

310 Body & Society, 5(2 Society, & Body -

99.

202 daa University ndiana - 327. Journal of Sport Sport of Journal

), -

236. 370 bodybuilders. bodybuilders.

604

- 396. -

pr in Sport 31. erica

- - .

CEU eTD Collection (1980). D. I. Yalom, Olympic Winter the of Coverage Mail and Globe The (1999). J. Crossman, & J., Urquhart, Ho Ice Girls, Adolescent Comes": Fear "No (2003). N. Theberge, G. L. Calhoun, & G., R. Tedeschi, Strenght Physical Muscles: Wrestlers' Women Elite (2009). E. Kristiansen, & K., M. Sisjord, (1991). J. W. TheScott, Evidence ofExperience. (eds.). C. Herzog, & J., Gaines, In: Muscle. the On (1990). L. Schulze, Hyper Transgressive the Reconsidering Queer? be Muscles Can (2007). C. Schippert, In: History. Oral of Use the and Debates Feminist Stories: our Telling (1998). J. Sangster, (1995). M. Russo, of metamorphosis The (2010). F. Yondre, Le & S., Javerlhiac, F., L. Monaghan, P., Roussel, Flex (2008). Gender N. Bodybuilding: Richardson, Male Extreme of Activity Queer The (2004). N. Richardson, In: Equality. in Experiment an as Research (1995). A. Portelli, (1993). I. J. Hudson, & L., D. Katz, G., H. Pope, spectacle? Dissidence, Auto Press. History. Oral in Meaning and Form Stories: Other and among bodybuilders. 108male Publisher, Budapest. Games. of Gender. and Empirical Evidence. 231 Burden. Social a and and New York: Body. 87 Thomso & R., Perks, Sociology ofSport, body? paroxysmal a Judging bodybuilders: female - 100. - 246.

Journal of Gender Studies, 16(2), Journal ofGender The female grotesque. Journal & ofSport Social Issues, 23(2),

Journal ofGender 17(4), Studies, Youth & Youth 34(4), Society, gizecái pszich Egzisztenciális

Routledge. (cites 2008). Richardson, - eroticism and Hysteria.

- 45(1), ae! eae oyulig fmns resista feminist bodybuilding: Female rated!

n, A. (E A. n,

nentoa Review International Psychological Inquiry,15(1), 20) Pstamtc rwh Cneta Foundations Conceptual Growth: Posttraumatic (2004).

103

Routledge, New York, London.Routledge,New York, ds.). - 109. Comprehensive 34, Psychiatry, oterápia. 72

The Oral History Reader. History Oral The

497

Critical Inquiry, 17(4),Critical -

516.

Anorexia nervosa and “reverse anorexia” anorexia” “reverse and nervosa Anorexia 155 Social Semiotics, 14(1),Social Semiotics,

[

- xseta Psychotherapy Existential 289 171. o te oilg o Sot 44(2 Sport, of Sociology the for

193 - 301.

202. nentoa Rve fr the for Review International The Death of Luigi Trastulli Luigi of Death The

1 ckey, and the Embodiment Embodiment the and ckey,

Albany - 18.

Fabrications. Fabrications.

773

London: Routledge London: 406 - New York: Sunny York: New -

797. 49 - 409. nce or erotic erotic or nce - 65.

] Animula .

London - built - 3), ,

CEU eTD Collection Bodybuilding. of Rhetoric Classicizing The Muscle!: Herculean (1997). M. Wayke, In (Ed.). Introduction.Warner,M. (1993). Warner,M. Muscles. Desire Men Why Article: Review (1995). L. Wacquant, 4(3), xxxi. Theory. Social and 179.

- 79.

University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis and London. vii London. and Minneapolis Press: Minnesota of University 73

Fear of a Queer Planet: QueerPoliticsQueerPlanet: a of Fear Body & Society, 1(1), Society, & Body Arion,

163 - -