# Muscular Women **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069 "2012-07-13T00:53:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/41 "2012-07-13T09:31:32Z")
Another vote for the woman in the OP having more masculine-style muscles\* than I like, but “repulsive” being too harsh a term. Losing the obvious vein and having at least slightly larger breasts would help. \*By that I mean not only having muscles, but having so little body fat over them that they have that “bodybuilder” look. A woman having muscles and feminine smoothness at the same time is quite attractive to me. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/42 "2012-07-13T10:08:08Z")
As for the woman in the picture—her arms might be a _tad_ thicker than what I’d prefer, aesthetically, but she actually looks surprisingly good for a female bodybuilder. She doesn’t have that gaunt faced, thin-haired look that a number of them have. But yeah, muscular women in general are a-ok by me. Though I should note that you’re going to get different muscle size and appearance depending on how a woman gains it—compare female [Olympians (and of different sports, at that!)](http://ninamatsumoto.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/athletic-body-diversity-reference-for-artists/#) to [stuntwomen](http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/55/b3fcd3562f0e380138181fdae2b7329a/l.jpg) to, hell, [“off-duty” female](http://www.jenniferabrams.net/photos/wifemother/wifeandmother16.jpg) [bodybuilders](http://www.jenniferabrams.net/photos/wifemother/wifeandmother81.jpg). And [Korra](http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/OB-MW926_korra2_G_20110305235453.jpeg). 🙂 It just goes to show that it’s not a simple binary, or even a straight gradient, between “Twiggy” and “Hulk.” ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/43 "2012-07-13T11:07:52Z")
If I want to know what it’s like to sleep with a dude, I’ll sleep with a dude. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/44 "2012-07-13T11:13:33Z")
Blech/meh. I wouldn’t kick her outta my bed, but it would be due to fear and not lust. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/45 "2012-07-13T11:58:35Z")
I resent the implication that a gay man would have no opinion on feminine beauty. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/46 "2012-07-13T12:05:32Z")
I think the point is _sexual_ attraction, which is a different thing. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/47 "2012-07-13T12:08:32Z")
Bad wording in the poll. I am not repulsed by muscular women. I don’t find steroid using body builders attractive but I’m not repulsed by them. I do know a couple of women who compete on a pretty high level in fitness competitions. When they get close to competition shape they are ripped. But they don’t have the size or shape of juiced women. They are very attractive. I had to put indifferent. I am attracted to fit muscular women. I am not attracted to women like the one in the picture. > [@panache45](#): > > I resent the implication that a gay man would have no opinion on feminine beauty. Its not a poll about beauty. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/48 "2012-07-13T12:36:52Z")
While I recognize it takes a great deal of discipline and effort to achieve mega-muscles, I don’t like them on men or women. There’s a line between fit and ridiculous, and to me, too many body builders cross that line, then kick dirt all over it. It falls into the category of “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” When I was in the Navy, one of my squadron mates and his wife were avid body builders. In my opinion, they were both way too close to the line. But each to his own, I suppose. It didn’t affect me one way or the other. I also had a young guy working for me who wanted to bulk up. I thought he was very healthy and fit as he was, but his goal was, IMHO, pretty extreme. I have no idea if he achieved it, as I got out of the Navy not too long after meeting him. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/49 "2012-07-13T13:50:54Z")
Someday I ought to upload my own photo so y’all can see what a woman who weight trains regularly looks like when she’s not on roids. I don’t think we’ve seen too many pictures of that on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/50 "2012-07-13T13:57:00Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Interestingly I don’t think I’ve ever got a yes when I’ve asked straight women if they find real extreme male body builers attractive, they are usually repulsed as well. Who are you asking? (Women, obviously, but what does their workout regimen look like?) I’m a straight woman attracted to male bodybuilders (even, or perhaps especially, to the extreme), but my female friends aren’t, and I suspect it has a lot to do with the fact that I lift weights and they don’t. If you asked women who spent a lot of time in the free weights section of the gym, I wonder if you’d find more yeses. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/51 "2012-07-13T13:59:45Z")
The woman in the picture looks good to me. She is probably way too into her bodybuilding for my tastes but if she has a good perpsonality and wants to get me in a headlock, I’d say “uncle.” I picked the poorly worded “I am a straight man. I am indifferent to muscular women.” I’m not indifferent, fitness looks good, but I don’t care a whole lot if a woman is superfit or a little unfit. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/52 "2012-07-13T14:00:18Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Not repulsive but unattractive. Right – somewhere between indifferent and repulsive. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/53 "2012-07-13T14:19:31Z")
I guess it’s sort of akin to seeing a man with an hourglass figure, gynocomastia (male titties), and birthin’ hips.\* I’m sure there are plenty of women, bi/gay men who might be into that, but I’m guessing most are either indifferent to it, or more likewise “ewww, get it off me!” about it. _not talking about transgendered folk._\* \*\*Transgendered Folk sounds like a new music category. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/54 "2012-07-13T14:34:56Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I guess it’s sort of akin to seeing a man with an hourglass figure, gynocomastia (male titties), and birthin’ hips.\* > > I’m sure there are plenty of women, bi/gay men who might be into that, but I’m guessing most are either indifferent to it, or more likewise “ewww, get it off me!” about it. > _not talking about transgendered folk._\* > > \*\*Transgendered Folk sounds like a new music category. _Michelle, row the bosat ashore, Alleluia! Michelle, Row the Boat Ashore A–lle-lu-u–u–u—ia_ ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/55 "2012-07-13T14:45:58Z")
> [@Ibanez](#): > > If I want to know what it’s like to sleep with a dude, I’ll sleep with a dude. A wise choice, as sleeping with a woman like the one in the OP wouldn’t be anything like sleeping with a man. > [@Ranchoth](#): > > [Korra](http://www.themarysue.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/OB-MW926_korra2_G_20110305235453.jpeg). 🙂 I’m glad to know I am not the only one who can find cartoon characters attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/56 "2012-07-13T14:46:19Z")
You guys seriously all think [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbL5UHJd1Q) is repulsive? You all also realize that immediately after a workout, your body retains a lot of veinyness and definition so while there are plenty of women who do have extremely muscularized bodies, there’s no guarantee that the She-Ra you see at the gym is going to look like that at dinner 5 hours later. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/57 "2012-07-13T14:51:14Z")
Athletic muscles great. The girl in the pic? No way. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/58 "2012-07-13T14:55:39Z")
I think she’s moderately attractive. She’s not, however, beautiful. It looks to me as if she’s not got enough body fat to bear children. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Dr.Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Love)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/59 "2012-07-13T15:19:02Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > You guys seriously all think [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGbL5UHJd1Q) is repulsive? You all also realize that immediately after a workout, your body retains a lot of veinyness and definition so while there are plenty of women who do have extremely muscularized bodies, there’s no guarantee that the She-Ra you see at the gym is going to look like that at dinner 5 hours later. She looks to have smaller arms than the girl in the OP’s photo. Maybe that’s just an illusion. > [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Someday I ought to upload my own photo so y’all can see what a woman who weight trains regularly looks like when she’s not on roids. I don’t think we’ve seen too many pictures of that on the Dope. You should. Besides the steroids vs. not, there’s also the difference between lifting for the bodybuilding aesthetic and lifting for strength. Look at this video of [strong ladies lifting like girls](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilHRhAYS5d4). ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069/60 "2012-07-13T15:25:15Z")
Toned, yes, very delicious. Absolutely ripped (as in the picture), no way. Kind of like the Uncanny Valley-I’ll find a very fit woman quite attractive, until a certain point is reached where their muscles are “too” obvious, at which point my attraction drops to zero. I thus wish the poll had a 4th option (for each level) which was for “toned”-since there was no such option, I still went with “attractive”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscular-women/628069.md?page=4)