Muscle, Femininity, and Stigma: A Feminist Exploration of Women’s Bodybuilding

Becoming a bodybuilder does not ‘naturally’ correspond to the social expectations traditionally directed towards women. The discipline demands extensive training and other lifestyle commitments in building a muscular female body. Drawing on personal experiences, this project explores key dimensions...

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Veröffentlicht in:Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai. Educatio artis gymnasticae Jg. 70; H. 3; S. 51 - 65
Hauptverfasser: JUABAN, Janice, MOLNÁR, Győző, HAMAR, Pál, SOÓS, István
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Cluj University Press 20.11.2025
Schlagworte:
autoethnography
bodybuilding
sociocultural norms
women
ISSN:1453-4223, 2065-9547
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Abstract Becoming a bodybuilder does not ‘naturally’ correspond to the social expectations traditionally directed towards women. The discipline demands extensive training and other lifestyle commitments in building a muscular female body. Drawing on personal experiences, this project explores key dimensions of a journey through the world of bodybuilding. Utilizing a feminist approach and the concept of stigma, the study focuses on the emotional and physical labour involved in developing a muscular physique while simultaneously navigating the socio-cultural expectations attached to femininity. This article centres on a three-year period and includes insights gained from a European competition’s Figure and Physique divisions. Central to this exploration is the tension between constructing a muscular body and negotiating the challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated subculture of bodybuilding. Article history: Received 2025 August 18; Revised 2025 September30; Accepted 2025 October 10;Available online 2025 November 20; Available print 2025 November 30
AbstractList Becoming a bodybuilder does not ‘naturally’ correspond to the social expectations traditionally directed towards women. The discipline demands extensive training and other lifestyle commitments in building a muscular female body. Drawing on personal experiences, this project explores key dimensions of a journey through the world of bodybuilding. Utilizing a feminist approach and the concept of stigma, the study focuses on the emotional and physical labour involved in developing a muscular physique while simultaneously navigating the socio-cultural expectations attached to femininity. This article centres on a three-year period and includes insights gained from a European competition’s Figure and Physique divisions. Central to this exploration is the tension between constructing a muscular body and negotiating the challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated subculture of bodybuilding. Article history: Received 2025 August 18; Revised 2025 September30; Accepted 2025 October 10; Available online 2025 November 20; Available print 2025 November 30
Author HAMAR, Pál
JUABAN, Janice
SOÓS, István
MOLNÁR, Győző
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SubjectTerms autoethnography
bodybuilding
sociocultural norms
women
Title Muscle, Femininity, and Stigma: A Feminist Exploration of Women’s Bodybuilding
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