This post comes from Caitlin Constantine of Fit and Feminist. Her blog is a never-ending source of inspiration and insight into the issues surrounding athleticism, equal rights, feminist philosophy, bodies and body image. Plus she’s fearless and hilarious. Read on for Caitlin’s contribution to Body Image Warrior Week:
The Danger of a Single Ideal Body
Recently, I came across a blog post by a personal trainer in which she explored the one of my least favorite terms as applied to women’s bodies – the word “bulky.” Any weight-training woman is familiar with this term, as it is often the first thing other women will say as their reason for refusing to lift weights. The idea is that lifting weights will lead to the development of big muscles, and the development of big muscles means a woman will no longer be beautiful and will instead be manly, unattractive, scary and doomed to a sex-free, love-free life.