Is bodybuilding bad for society, from a body positivity perspective?

zamphir66 · August 2018

harneska wrote: »

My debate partner's argument was that because in bodybuilding, one strives for form over function, it is inherently unhealthy -- if not for the individual (who casual bodybuilding might still be a net gain for health-wise, especially if done in a body-positive way), then for society, because emphasis on the aesthetic appearance of one's body causes psychological harm to others who cannot achieve, let's say, chiseled abs or larger chest muscles. That because you are causing harm to other people in this way, by contributing to their self-non-acceptance, we'd all be better off if nobody did bodybuilding.

I'm trying to get back to the premise of your/the argument, because you seem to be finding issue with people's statements over the last few pages. Would you agree that what I've bolded here is the premise in question?

Assuming yes, here's my response: It's a fundamentally flawed premise, and therefore I do not subscribe to any arguments stemming from it. I am not an agent of or responsible for someone else's psychological response to my treatment of my own body. The form/function distinction is entirely irrelevant. If I want to get a dozen plastic surgeries to look like <insert attractive person>, that's completely my business. If I want to spend 12 hours a week over the course of years to sculpt myself into an Adonis, that's my prerogative. If that bothers someone, they should seek therapy, not embrace an external locus of control by conflating their feelings with my actions.

IHaveMyActTogether · August 2018

wmd1979 wrote: »

ForecasterJason wrote: »

NorthCascades wrote: »

I think discouraging exercise is bad for society.

I agree, but I didn't think anyone was suggesting that people refrain from exercise in general.

The suggestion was that people should not exercise at a certain level for aesthetic reasons for fear that others may be offended or feel bad about themselves. It shouldn't matter what the motivation for exercising is. If I lift for aesthetic reasons then that is my decision and if someone else has a problem with that then they are the one with an issue. Others have mentioned it throughout this thread, but most who train at a high level are not doing it for a singular reason. A person can want to become stronger and healthier as well as having aesthetic goals. Does this mean overweight people should not lose weight if they are doing it simply so they can look better to themselves? Should they worry about another overweight person getting offended if they work hard to put themselves in a healthy weight range? A lot of people feel much more confident and feel better about themselves when they do lose weight which only increases body positivity.

I think this whole pointless debate comes down to envy. An overweight or obese person may become envious of someone else who has put in a lot of work to look the way they do. The person with the problem is the one who is envious and not the one who is the object of that envy. People need to quit worrying about what everyone else is doing and just focus on becoming the version of themselves that makes them the most happy(regardless of what that body type is).

What he said.

aaricflex · August 2018

Absolutely not. Shaming anyone for any body type is the real problem.

Is bodybuilding bad for society, from a body positivity perspective?

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