I think this is an important point.
Bodybuilding is such a misunderstood sport.
I have been on some BBing forums where there are never-ending debate threads on 'Is bodybuilding a sport' for goodness sake!
The only thing that I have noticed is that the performance enhancing drugs have more of a tendency to DAMAGE the reputation of the sport.
As soon as you say 'bodybuilding' or 'bodybuilder' the social schema/stereotype for this is
1. Steroids
2. Women who look like men
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Yes, but it's pretty stupid for us to deny it. These days even any little old Blue hair lady knows about steroids in sports. BBers are the Offical whipping boy, Finger pointing target because appearance is the end goal in itself.
Im sure If we had a behind the scenes look at many other sports (Cycling in particular) the stuff BBers do would seem conservative.
I think that the public is getting more aware of that.
Female BBers in top Contest condition have a hard time gaining popular support even if they are natural.
The appearance just runs against what the public is conditioned to consider as a female ideal.
Tough crap! They are not doing it for the benifit of being sex objects to the majority of men.
Its about getting as close to becoming a walking Human Anatomy chart as possible.