[asianfitnessfan]

…in all the ohter examples (barring the child pagaeant one) the focus is on an ahtletic performance NOT the body of the performer.  That's where the important distinction lies.

Well said, and I certainly concede that point, but how does that distinction make the girl's participation in the event wrong?  It is a false assumption that the girl would be inappropriately sexualised for participating in an event where her physique development and/or fitness is evaluated. Maybe I am not enthusiastic enough, but I really don't see how a bodybuilding/fitness competition is a sexually-laden event, schmoes or not (maybe that is a question for a different topic!).

An equivalent argument is saying that children should not watch television because it has rotten things in it.  Like anything, the context of each case is important, and the maturity of the child, as well as the benefits of the endeavour, need to be weighed carefully by the parent.  In this case, a responsible parent was involved. 

I am still quite confident that it was a slow news day for that publication.

[MaxxC]

Well said, and I certainly concede that point, but how does that distinction make the girl's participation in the event wrong?  It is a false assumption that the girl would be inappropriately sexualised for participating in an event where her physique development and/or fitness is evaluated. Maybe I am not enthusiastic enough, but I really don't see how a bodybuilding/fitness competition is a sexually-laden event, schmoes or not (maybe that is a question for a different topic!).

Wow… well, you're probably 1% of the crowd who see it that way dude. I admire your idealism, but, dude, be realistic.

No matter what are your age is, what gender you are, if you compete in bodybuilding, you have to stand on stage half naked, flexing your muscles for the delight of the crowd looking "beautiful" and "attractive". What if she has competition. REAL competition, then what?

Are you going to tell me that there aren't people in the crowd (perhaps 1% or less) who aren't thinking sexual thoughts seeing a girl do that? I sure as hell wouldn't want my daughter at that age doing that or being exposed to such a crowd or even subjected to judging at a young age.

Mind you, I grew up in a western society. So if you're from the Asia region, you probably do see this very much differently than I do because growing up, maybe it wasn't as much as an issue in your society.

[SnowLeopardTaur]

I don't think we can really know if it's 1% or 99% who see it either way… Of course from our point of view, it seems a little creepy because we big muscles as something sexy or erotic, but I'd echo i_am_not_herbert

sexualization…isn't that specific to the fetish shared by members of this board?  BB may be about aesthetics, but it's not about "erotic" aesthetics.

But honestly, I really can't say, I've never been to a bodybuilding competition. 

[asianfitnessfan]

Wow… well, you're probably 1% of the crowd who see it that way dude. I admire your idealism, but, dude, be realistic.

No matter what are your age is, what gender you are, if you compete in bodybuilding, you have to stand on stage half naked, flexing your muscles for the delight of the crowd looking "beautiful" and "attractive". What if she has competition. REAL competition, then what?

Are you going to tell me that there aren't people in the crowd (perhaps 1% or less) who aren't thinking sexual thoughts seeing a girl do that? I sure as hell wouldn't want my daughter at that age doing that or being exposed to such a crowd or even subjected to judging at a young age.

Mind you, I grew up in a western society. So if you're from the Asia region, you probably do see this very much differently than I do because growing up, maybe it wasn't as much as an issue in your society.

Wow, bigmaxinf– did you read the article we are talking about? With all respect, I disagree that the crowd was thinking such things about the girl (who is 10 years old), and I really don't think I am being idealistic there.

I am sure there are spectators at a bodybuilding competition who think sexual thoughts.  I highly doubt that 99% of them do about 10-year-old girls, but there aren't really any stats out there I can go on.  😉  I really don't think that is idealistic of me.  I think it is a mistake to assume that everyone goes to a bodybuilding event with inappropriate sexual thoughts just because you might view it as an event with a sexual atmosphere.  What about a a ballet, where flexible, athletic people wear tight skimpy clothing and try to look beautiful for spectators?  Should we rush to tear our daughters out of ballet recitals for fear of the odd wacko in the audience?

I think the reason I even take the time to comment about this stupid issue is because:

1. The media sensationalism of a reasonable situation.  A child was under apparently responsible adult supervision.  The newspaper slanted the story in a way that made the mother seem reckless and guilty until proven innocent for exposing her child to the sport of fitness.  I will ask again– where is the real controvery/crime? 

2.  The story perpetuates the public misconception that the bodybuilding/fitness scene is somehow more deviant than other sports.  The suggestion that it is inappropriate for a child of 10 years to be involved suggests this.  I can't help but speculate that this would be a non-issue if the child were a male, which further annoys me.

3.  Finally, the whole issue serves to perpetuate a growing culture of fear, where, regardless of rational thought, we will 'protect' people at all cost by sheltering them from reality.  Such a culture pressures parents to deprive their children of experiences when there is a statistically minuscule chance that they could experience any harm.  Ultimately, children parented in this manner are denied experiences that allow them diverse social contact where they acquire skills to distinguish hype from reality, separate reasonable from unreasonable, and apply critical thought.

All of the above causes the next generation to become more stupid, gullible, and susceptible to the media detritus we are debating right now.

[nic2800]

Does anyone remember a little boy a few years back that was doing the same thing.

I think they even showed part of his training and show posing on the news.

As I wrote this I did a search.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/story?id=570290

Above is an artical on it. (No pics.)

So……..is this in the same area of concern?

[game861]

Do you mean little Hercullies?  Sorry, don't know how to spell name.

[cpbell0033944]

In general, I agree with asianfitnessfan about sheltering kids.  My point is that comparing ballet and FBBing isn't comparing like with like, as the primary focus in FBBing is the body and how attractive it is, not how attractive and skilled it's movements are; despite the posing routines, FBBing is mostly hudged during the pre-evening rounds of set poses.

[MaxxC]

I disagree that the crowd was thinking such things about the girl (who is 10 years old), and I really don't think I am being idealistic there.

I wasn't talking about everyone. Just the minority who think that way. Women are EASILY objectified in this sport.

While I do agree a 10 year old boy may not get as much angst if he competes, why expose any 10 year old to this stuff? What if it gets serious? It just doesn't make sense to me to have a girl (or a boy) be exposed to it so early. Anyhoo, as long as the parent is watching things it should be fine, but respectfully, I still don't agree with it. Of course the media will sensationalize this but that's besides the point.

Let them mature a bit more before getting into that stuff, that's all I have to say.

You can't really compare ballet to bodybuilding. lol.

[Tigersan]

See… When it was loud about sandrak noone complained… Now a girl is doing same and they all have problem with it… They are concerned – LOL sure they are… about how much attention they get. When a kid does something healthy instead sitting infront of tv the whole day its baaad… VERY BAD. Especially that her mom said she doesnt do any heavy weights just fitness moves and such… That tells me about that "genuine concern" of media… LOL. Those tv and news publishers should get a psychiatrist visit. I hate how they just seek attention. And huge props for that kid!     

As far as sexualism, its purely subjective, if someone finds it attractive then it is. Noone ever said officially that bodybuilding has anything to do with eroticism, its us who created this niche, and we find it attractive.

And what about kids in swimsuits on the beach… I think its the same case, lots of people on beaches too, and 2 piece bikinis for kids are even more skimpy… so I dont get the whole "concern" really.

[Michael Pouliot]

as the primary focus in FBBing is the body and how attractive it is

No.  The goal is attaining a perfect physique.  The fact that this physique may be attractive to some people is ancillary.

(Note that this statement classifies Figure and Fitness competition judging, which do feature an implicit attractiveness component, as distinctly different from BB judging criteria.)

[Author]

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