Why is there such a strong stigma against women who weightlift?

Question

I have realized that many women avoid weightlifting. They often think that they will instantly bulk up and look like this ;

Why is there such a strong stigma against women who weightlift?

While I understand that many men and women don't like that type of look on a lady , do people really think that the woman in the pic lifts exactly like you do?
No. It takes years of training, giving up so many foods and perhaps even steroid usage to look like her.

The reality is that many women who lift on a regular basis, eat clean and don't take useless suplements will only be able to look like this at their max ;

And by losing some fat, like this ;

So i get it that most men dont find muscular women attractive but why do we try to limit somebody else's action just because they look "good" to us. And ladies, if you want to lift, DO IT. There is nothing wrong with getting stronger, fitter and achieving the look you are going for. Whether it's lean, thick, muscular or whatever.

Cynicaldreamer · Accepted Answer

" And ladies, if you want to lift, DO IT. There is nothing wrong with getting stronger, fitter and achieving the look you are going for ." I couldn't have said it better myself.  I think the problem is women have been taught to believe that lifting weights is "unfeminine," not to mention some of the fools out there that say muscular, strong women aren't attractive.  So it's okay for a man to be strong, but not a woman? Yeah okay... good thing I don't care what others think about  my  body 🙄 Fyi: most women that lift weights do it for themselves, NOT to impress others or get a man. I've been lifting weights for about...3-4 years now? And I love it! I feel stronger, healthier, and better about myself. It tones you up and gives you a lean figure! And ladies, lifting weights  WILL NOT  bulk you up or make you look masculine! Unless you take hormones or have an unusually large amount of testosterone, you won't look like a man.  I really wish more women would embrace weight training. You don't even have to lift really heavy weights to see and feel results, just be consistent and eat a balanced diet.

Petra150 · Accepted Answer

I know some don't like it, but I'm more into why it's something anybody find attactive, muscle have always been horrible to watch, a person with muscel seem to be awkward and a person with no real life , a person who can't set up goals for life, as it is a total lack of prioritization in life to build completely unnecessary muscles. But this applies to both sexes. In our time it's a waste of time to build muscle, and it's pretty useless and look horrible too. Most people who try to build muscle have a little self-esteem, and muscle don't change it at all

Bananaman177 · Accepted Answer

I've encountered the same attitude and I find it hilarious.

"Oh, I don't want to get all big and bulky!"

It's like, "Yeah guess what, that would take you at least seven years to even build a base for achieving that, and that would include completely changing your diet, reading and studying several textbooks worth of information, and putting in roughly 20,000 hours of intensive training, and that's if you were a man, with a man's testosterone levels."

But it makes sense why these girls usually expect men to all be muscular like that, and why they look down on guys with a normal physique, since apparently they think it only takes a month or two to get ripped and massive.

Oigit · Accepted Answer

Because it does not conform to "societys" out life of what women should be or beauty standards. More or less its yet another example of group think and social engineering. Also it does cause a lot of men to question their own masculinity. Always a bonus. Because a real man would be comfortable in his own masculinity to the point that they don't question it.

Honestly find me a woman who I can form a mental connection with and would participate with me in the Highland Games with me, I might start thinking that marriage isn't such a bad idea. lol

Massageman · Answer

I have no problem with women staying in shape. (I digress for a moment))
The thing is that many women are under the (mistaken) notion that if they exercise, they will turn into a musclebound clod. They won't ,

MrsJaximus-Lion · Answer

my husband workout a lot and he meets a lot of females that does the same and he tells me how much hate they get in the streets at work and social media that they look like men and many other mean words
he is a part of community he and some others created to support natural female body builders and they did make a female body builder local event in stockholm last year and it got massive success and its none beneficial but they got some sponsors but everything got canceled because of covid but they will make it next year hoping
i dont workout but i do support women who wnats to be body builders and i think its beautiful because they are working hard and it makes them feel glorious and for that is what counts i respect all women that work out and maybe one day i will workout too

RingOfFire · Answer

I don't want to "limit anybodies action." It's fine with me if women want to lift weights, feel free.

I just don't find muscular women attractive, to me its gross. They look like wimpy male bodybuilders.

If they just want to do it to keep themselves healthy I think it's great.

But either way if that's what they want, that's their business not mine.

Personally, I find women who are soft and not too firm to be more attractive. Not fat, just soft. Women naturally have a higher percentage of body fat than men. There are biological reasons for that. It's their natural body. And to me it is more attractive.

TheUniqueOne96 · Answer

I think it's because people think big muscles are masculine and it's not something they like on women.

People can do what they want and there's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself and working out, it's totally fine, but I don't think women find it attractive when a guy is overly big/lean either.

jshm2 · Answer

You're confused.

There is no "stigma" - it's just medically dangerous for women to go on the shred like men can, Not only does it affect your biology and hormones, but you could cause irreversible damage to your organs and mental health.

I'm not talking steroids - a whole world of wrong in itself, but the testosterone imbalance required for a woman to build mass. Sure getting fit and athletic is a good look for some. But as any elite female athlete will tell you, testosterone and it's supplements will make you go nuts over time.

It's one reason so few female athletes remain pro into their 30's - they just can't cope with the mental and physical toll.

Levin · Answer

I've been strength training intensively for overc3 years and I'm still pretty skinny.

Lean muscle grows in the context of your bone structure.

I suspect people become 'big' when they consume too many calories, do the wrong types of exercise, eat too many fats and ani. al products or take steroids. I eat mostly vegetarian.

Anonymous · Answer

Not sure if there are still is. Here in Germany many young women who want to keep up their hot looks do work out with weights. It is no longer the simple cliché "men lift, women do cardio".
Some men of course like be be simply ignorant about the female body or things in general, but that is mirrored by females in other areas when it comes to what males are supposed to do / not to do.

A1513 · Answer

I love muscular women! The only big factor in it is how the woman sculpts herself. There are good and bad ways to do anything. The girl you see in this picture is very beautiful to me. She has great definition and manly women just look good to me, especially when they have pecs or almost do.

Nalix · Answer

There are some fine lines, and there are some guys who really go for muscular women. Athletic is much better than muscular, in general, in the eyes of most guys. Being fit and healthy nearly always is more attractive, but just a bit of body fat can make all the difference on a hard layer of muscles.

MannMitAntworten · Answer

Personally I like women who lift. My last one did and she was built more like the woman in the black dress you pointed out. Granted, her arms were a bit more nicely defined. Also, women who lift tend to have a better sexual stamina than than those who do not. At least from my experience.

Mystic_Nova · Answer

No issues I have an issue with a woman taking steroids tho. And alotnof women who weight lift take them. Even if it's just a small enhancement.  One, it's a lie. Second, it makes them look ridicules

Anonymous · Answer

I find strong women to be hot, but if she is too toned, I find it less visually appealing. If she looked like the second woman, but could outlift most men, that would be the winner. I still want to be strongest, but strong woman are beautiful. I don't mind skinny women either, but if she looks too muscular, then it's a turn off.

emmily2396 · Answer

1. People would rather watch some stupid show than read anything to have more knowledge
2. The average person is lazy and men want to feel strong, so they would rather weaken women by discouraging them to improve their physique than do something to improve their own body.

hahahmm · Answer

Because women who go overboard look like dudes. This happens when you lose too much body fat & your face becomes mannish. Your breasts melt away. Most of the physical traits that socially define you as female diminish or vanish.

Couple that with any competition with men & you have a toxic soup. Sort of the flip side of a dude putting on a wig & lipstick and demanding that you let him breastfeed your baby with his dry nipple.

bluetoblack99 · Answer

It can look masculine BUT I much rather sleep with a girl who weightlifts vs a BBW. She can easily lose that muscle just by not lifting and doing cardio. A BBW has a very long ways to go before she can look good. One works hard the other is lazy.

Thatsamazing · Answer

There isn't-- there's stigma against females looking like ^ the chick in that first pic, as in, being a female BODY BUILDER. Simple weightlifting to get fit is a good thing. It's just when it's taken to a massive extreme that guys don't like it.

SuccessfulHornDog · Answer

I have no problem with women lifting weights and those that do it for their health are better off. I am not attracted to masculine women though so if they venture into that area I am not interested in them any longer.

NorthwestRider · Answer

Only the sexist backwards nuts who are against women who weightlift I find strong women sexy and badass Love women with muscles hehe

Unit1 · Answer

No idea. Do your thing because it's your passion, not because somebody dictates you to. Much like I don't want to make tons of money because women want me to (no. I do it for myself).

bobbistar · Answer

Bodybuilding is for both men and women. The sterotypes needs to be changed and now a days its changing. My wife is doing bodybuilding from 3 years and i support her.

finallylettinggo · Answer

Not all pf us feel that way, personally i find the first pic attractive. Generally the more built a woman becomes, the less they desire a skinny non-muscular male like me.

Brian___1731 · Answer

I don't like extremism both ways. I believe in lean bodies.

AD240pCharlie · Answer

I might find something unattractive but I don't try to tell people not to do it because of that. It's not gonna affect me whether I find then physically appealing or not.

asshole_ · Answer

Their isn't

But, just because they weight-lift, doesn't mean a guy HAS to like her because she does. Just like you might not like whatever you don't like on a man. why do you care if a guy has or doesn't have something. I certainly don't care if you weight lift or not, im just not attracted to it

Browneye57 · Answer

Do what pleases YOU.  Just understand that the more a woman tries to be like or look like a man, the less desirable she is to them.

Grs96 · Answer

well, the goal of weightlift is to get more muscular, and muscular bodies look more masculine, but yeah you can look only more hot with the right exercises, just do whatever you want and dont listen to anyone

Anonymous · Answer

there's nothing wrong with a woman lifting. there's a difference in terms of lifting to keep fit and there's a difference towards lifting for bodybuilding. Either of them two are fine. Its your body.

Hmmm_how_about_that · Answer

Well I would say what your saying doesn't make sense at all. Why stop somebody from achieving their goals? Like who is stopping them? Should we men be sorry that we don't like muscular women? oh yeah you're right I'm truly ashamed and sorry that I don't like mustard and I like ketchup.
On the other hand why would you want to stop men to be with the kind of women they like, shouldn't you be sorry too that you don't like men the way they are? Lol

padreflint · Answer

I'm not a fan of weight lifting to the point of the first picture, men or women. Anything beyond the 3rd picture is too much for me.

Gedaria · Answer

If girls want to do it it's up to her, but I don't like the body building thing at all whether female or male. But I would not get upset about it..

jasco · Answer

I have nothing against them its just body builders in general are gross so if a women has so much muscle to the point I can see it it's a turn off

Anonymous · Answer

You do you. There's nothing wrong with doing whatever makes you feel good as long as you are OK with the consequences in terms of how people with judge your appearance.

pervertedjester · Answer

As far as I know it's mainly a health issue. Women who train to that extent usually damage their bodies, as do men who aren't careful but, women lose out a bit more. Knowing that, dating muscular women isn't that appealing.

MissDawn7961 · Answer

for it makes the women who do this bodies look deformed at not feminine in the least ! the top photo on here proves this

Citizenkirk · Answer

News too me. Are you sure you got your facts straight?

OddBeMe · Answer

Body wise, yes. It’s against society’s views of sexy.

Anonymous · Answer

Men feel threatened by them Women think they aren't feminine enough

Киттйлинк · Answer

being fit and muscular is attractive on any body but the first photo is disgusting on ANY Body.

Cryptic-Game · Answer

Many people feel women should possess feminine traits and a muscular body is far from feminine. Athletic is one thing but a muscle woman is a no go.

Anonymous · Answer

Because some men can't stand stand seeing a stronger woman than them.

Jersey2 · Answer

It’s ugly and not feminine. Even the best of them don’t compare to a guy who is training, so it doesn’t even make sense.

bonus2543 · Answer

many men's think that women's are week but they aren't and when they proof them wrong by lifting more weight then them they get jealous

KaylaMackenzie · Answer

I don't know. It doesn’t matter what other people think

chickenlover80 · Answer

I love a strong thick looking woman. I love the thought of a woman dominating me

itsmatty · Answer

I don't think there is a stigma against women that lift weights. I've never heard of it anyways but I do find them less attractive

darkcloud1945 · Answer

They start to look like hard looking men when they get too big.

Tslav_ · Answer

Because muscular women are unattractive. Women seem to intentionally conflate thick with fat and muscular and fit

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

Why would you consider it a stigma if we just simply don't like to date women who lift because they are not our type?

admles · Answer

Fit muscular women are hot AF!

Iron_Man · Answer

its to much hard muscle

msc545 · Answer

They wind up looking like men.

Why is there such a strong stigma against women who weightlift?

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