the over-sexualization of the fitness world...

Ok so this is stemming from a post I made over on facebook - actually a couple posts - that seem to have started a bit of a discussion...not a huge one mind you but enough that I feel I need to set my view straight. A few days ago I shared a blog by Tosca Reno that you can read here about the pornographic nature of fitness and physique models; a sentiment shared by a few of my mentors in the bodybuilding (for lack of a better term as it is more encompassing than just bodybuilding) industry, like Ashley Conrad and Amber Dodzweit of Clutch Bodyshop. Basically the idea is that there is little difference these days between fitness models and porn models, minus a little muscle and perhaps some exposed genitalia, and how it has become an industry norm to bare nearly all to sell a product. This in turn makes it near impossible for up and coming athletes to not only be taken seriously but to get any where in the game should they choose not to wiggle their glutes in front of the camera. Read the blogs - the above mentioned ladies say it so much better and - oh yeah - they've lived it so its coming from experienced vets in the biz...

Yesterday, I posted a list of the 35 most eligible bachelors in fitness as seen on spotmegirl.com which you can find here and I was pretty much called out for being a hypocrite (not that any of my lady friends were complaining) which is why I feel the need to respond with this blog...so here we go...sorry if I ramble...

There is a lot of skin in the physique business.... like... a lot ... bodybuilding/fitness/physique/bikini/boardshort competitions - male AND female - require the majority of the competitors physique to be visible. Duh, right? Same goes for selling products and services that cater to the transformation of ones body. Even competitive sports have their sport-appropriate attire. Google fitness models and you can see the glaring difference between whats appropriate and what borders on the pornographic. Don't show me a sweaty jacked lady in the gym wearing a thong and a strip no thicker than the jump rope in her hand covering her ridiculously ample (fake) breasts because I can assure you - she did not just jump that rope. Not to leave the fellas out of this argument either - same goes for the equally as sweaty jacked dude in the banana hammock (stuffed) sitting on the bench  surrounded by weights.What are you selling me??  I am far more inspired by a man or woman WORKING in the gym - mid rep - dressed for the workout.

I posted the list of men because
a) one of my fb and bbcom friends made the list which is awesome.
b) I like and appreciate the male (and female) form (and I do not differentiate between the 2 when it comes to bodybuilding and fitness) and know how much hard work it takes to get to where these people are
c) the majority of the images on the list actually are not scantily clad - in fact some of the names don't even have pictures! Since dudes have been shirtless since the dawn of time there is nothing wrong or overtly sexual with this!! (now throw some topless women in there and all of a sudden its a sex thing which is totally not right or fair)

I don't believe this list is sexualizing men at all. I opened it up to men and women to enjoy, many of my friends are into fitness and bodybuilding, and many more appreciate attractive fit men. This is not sexualizing or objectifying anyone. The fact that  it is a list of "eligible bachelors" isn't even a sexual concept as the definition of the word bachelor itself is simply:

bach·e·lor

ˈbaCH(ə)lər/

noun

noun: bachelor; plural noun: bachelors

1.

a man who is not and has never been married.

"Mark is a confirmed bachelor"

 

See? And to that point some of these guys probably have been or are in very committed relationships so maybe the list should have been titled '35 Guys we Admire in the Fitness Industry Because Well We Know They Work Hard at What They Do and They Seem Pretty Ok by Us'

I can appreciate the human form but we have turned it into something completely opposite of what the human body should be! We are MACHINES! We can do amazing things with our bodies and we are losing that to inactivity, unattainable societal standards of what we should look like, body shaming, and the objectification of who society thinks we should be sexually. I have boobs but that doesn't mean I need to bare them for attention and to get me places. As women I think the majority of us do get caught up in the "hey look what I can do" at least once or twice in our lives when it comes to using our sexuality - which doesn't make it right but we do need to find our place in the world as we grow into the different phases of our lives. I can't speak for men and it would be a bit of a different argument but I would think there is the same use of power as they find themselves as well...can anyone speak to this?

When I am in the gym I am there to work. I do not do my make up. I do not do my hair aside from throwing it in a messy ponytail to keep it out of the way. Most times I have not shaved my legs. I brush my teeth only because I practice good oral hygiene. I can't even say that I always have clean clothes on. (aside from my underwear b/c I was taught at a young age to always have clean underwear on in case I am ever in an accident...thanks mom) But the work I do shines through the dirty tshirt, the baggy sweats, the hat pulled low because THAT is what I am selling. My hard work. I will not sell myself out for a contract or a sponsorship if they tell me to get naked beyond what *I* want to sell.  And if I end up on some list of '35 Ladies we Admire in the Fitness Industry Because Well We Know They Work Hard at What They Do and They Seem Pretty Ok by Us' then I know I'm doing ok, and if not, I know I'm still doing ok by me.

so really....can you tell  me there is no difference?