are female athletes objectified?

[mooshermy]

this article makes an interesting claim. it seems fairly straightforward, but often times it's unconscious. do you think that male bodybuilding objectifies and sexualizes the female body? i agree with the article, but is it possible for bodybuilding to move beyond complete objectification???

http://themindmuscleconnection.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/motivating-the-objectification-the-female-body-the-male-gaze-and-female-bodybuilding/

[illiniStrive]

Saying bodybuilding results in objectification and saying it results in COMPLETE objectification are two different claims imo.

Firstly, the notion of the male gaze is certainly not limited to bodybuilding. The theory arose out of film and cinema studies, and has now become a prominent part of feminist film/media criticism.

But rather than rehash all that, I'd like to challenge the notion that bodybuilding results in the "complete objectification and fetishization of female bodybuilding and the female body". Such a claim actually further undermines the women who participate, as it suggests that the pleasure involved with bodybuilding goes 100% to the male audience (and/or those participating in the "gaze" male and females alike). But as women on these forums who have and have not competed can tell you, improving one's physiques has MANY internal emotional/mental benefits for the actual "body" herself. This thus distorts the pattern of objectification, as the personal pleasure received from improving one's physique is a form of agency on behalf of that individual.

I do whole-heartedly agree that objectification is a problem regarding female athletes of all kinds (gymnastics and beach volleyball, anyone?), and I see what the author of the post was driving at. But I whole-heartedly disagree with the implication that female bodybuilding as whole is nothing more than male-driven desires acting upon us hoodwinked females (;)).

I do appreciate the link to the blog, though. It's interesting to see someone approach the bodybuilding culture from a critical perspective. I've only seen one other blog that does so, Feminist Figure Girl (http://feministfiguregirl.com/).

[mooshermy]

Saying bodybuilding results in objectification and saying it results in COMPLETE objectification are two different claims imo.

Firstly, the notion of the male gaze is certainly not limited to bodybuilding. The theory arose out of film and cinema studies, and has now become a prominent part of feminist film/media criticism.

But rather than rehash all that, I'd like to challenge the notion that bodybuilding results in the "complete objectification and fetishization of female bodybuilding and the female body". Such a claim actually further undermines the women who participate, as it suggests that the pleasure involved with bodybuilding goes 100% to the male audience (and/or those participating in the "gaze" male and females alike). But as women on these forums who have and have not competed can tell you, improving one's physiques has MANY internal emotional/mental benefits for the actual "body" herself. This thus distorts the pattern of objectification, as the personal pleasure received from improving one's physique is a form of agency on behalf of that individual.

I do whole-heartedly agree that objectification is a problem regarding female athletes of all kinds (gymnastics and beach volleyball, anyone?), and I see what the author of the post was driving at. But I whole-heartedly disagree with the implication that female bodybuilding as whole is nothing more than male-driven desires acting upon us hoodwinked females (;)).

I do appreciate the link to the blog, though. It's interesting to see someone approach the bodybuilding culture from a critical perspective. I've only seen one other blog that does so, Feminist Figure Girl (http://feministfiguregirl.com/).

Great points. (Although the Gaze is Lacanian psychoanalysis, which has been appropriated to a great degree in film/media and feminist studies.)
But I don't think the article suggests that female bodybuilding operates FOR the male gaze, but rather within, and thus questions whether this has the actual capacity to alter the overarching (male) structure.
Do you think that the benefits of bodybuilding truly translate into agency? That would suggest precisely the capability to affect the male gaze.
And, of course, you make an excellent point about female sports in general. Also, thanks for the blog suggestion. I'm going now to check it out... :D