Reflections

When I first began the research in my subculture I expected to find a lot of vanity issues among insider men and women. What I found was that, yes, this was true, however, there are much deeper issues involved in this aspect of the culture as well. Muscle dysmorphia was what surprised me. I had never before heard of it and it was a fascinating spin on my subculture.

At the beginning, I was an outsider so many things intrigued me. Now, as more of an insider, I am intrigued by the development of body image from the entrance of the subculture to when you are a complete insider. When I entered the subculture, I actually became more aware of my “faults” and wanted more and more to change my body. Talking to insiders that have been a part of the subculture for years and years, I have found that they are fairly satisfied with their body. I want to find how that happens.

The thing that disturbs me about the gym subculture is the media it is given and the media forced on those insiders. Posters line the walls of the gym and of tanning beds that many gyms are starting to install. I think this plays a huge part in body dissatisfaction of those entering the subculture.

What is going on here? There are many “unwritten rules” and several rituals involved in the gym. For instance, one informant told me that if you weigh less than 140 lbs. you should not grunt when you lift. Its almost a disrespect to those bigger than you working out at the same time. Other minor rules include putting back weights when you are finished, wiping your sweat off the benches, and time limits on certain machines.

Where’s the culture? The language is the hardest part of this subculture for me to learn. There are so many different machines used, different exercises, and acronyms, that I have a hard time keeping up with my informants sometimes. Other parts of the gym that I have observed are tanning rooms. Several of the gyms I have visited now include tanning in their membership packages. Other than the main weight room, sometimes there is also a separate treadmill room or aerobic room.

What’s the story? This story is essentially a journey through body image. Outsiders want to look like insiders. Some insiders want to look more like fellow insiders. Beginners start to notice faults. And these body image issues lead to supplement use and sometimes psychological complications.