[asianfitnessfan]

Say goodbye to those nice rounded deltoids, too!

[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.

[asianfitnessfan]

;D

[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.

[asianfitnessfan]

I believe the bad angle is the skimpy swim suite and being 10 tears old on a stage showing her body.

I politely disagree.

Based on that rationale, we should condemn events where spectators can observe 10-year-old females competing in gymnastics, swimming, and track and field.

This situation was made to seem exceptional and worthy of outrage and concern.  In reality, it is a 10-year-old female participating in an athletic event under parental supervision.  Yes, spectators were watching her. This happens quite often all over the world.

I don't see where all the brow-furrowing is coming from.

[asianfitnessfan]

Nothing can match the power of the Holy Hande Grenade of Antioch.

[asianfitnessfan]

I read the article.  Also, the original one is here: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24032148-2862,00.html

Where in the article is the child called an "FBB?"  (Hint: nowhere)

Here is some important info from the original article:

"The mum of five, from Maitland in NSW, said Maughan was a fitness fanatic who runs, does push-ups and squats, but doesn't use weights. 'I think it's very irresponsible to put a child on weights,' she said.

Maughan said she wanted to be an Olympic athlete rather than a bodybuilder, and was inspired by runners such as Jana Rawlinson."

Where's the controversy here?

[asianfitnessfan]

I greatly appreciate the fact that Julie bucks the current vogue for underdeveloped calves in Figure. 8)  Thanks cray for the new selection!

Huong Arcinas is bucking the trend, too, and continuing to place well.  I do think that the "powers that be" in the NPC will limit too much leg development, though.  Looking at the current trend (my subjective opinion here), beautifully shaped legs like Julie's won't place number 1.

http://asianfitnessblog.com/2007/05/25/is-calf-development-now-penalised.aspx

[asianfitnessfan]

Another thought– one doesn't see this trend happening with the FAME contests.  And, I was browsing contest photo results over at Hardfitness, and I seriously think that calf development is not rewarded at all.  I have to look over the results some more.  ???

[asianfitnessfan]

Thanks for your kind words– you are somewhat of an authority on the subject of muscular women.  😉  As far as the calf trend, it heartens me that Huong Arcinas made it into the pro ranks.

Hey– you should comment more at asianfitnessblog.com!  (And I should comment more here at amaz0ns before I complain about lack of interaction in the blogosphere . . .) ::)

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