The Truth That Needs Repeating

      The Washington Post recently began a multi-part expose on the world of 'Women's Bodybuilding'. First thing both the seasoned and unseasoned bodybuilding fan will notice is that there are NO bodybuilders in the feature featuring 'Women's Bodybuilding'. Secondly, and hold on to your hat for this one-turns out photographer, J.M Manion makes a living taking and selling images of the women of Fitness! AND, he's been doing it for years!

    Stunning? No. It's not that stunning at all. And we should remain UNstunned at the idea of women wanting to have their picture taken clothed, semi-clothed, or sans clothes. That too has been going on for years. But what the Washington Post wants its readers to know is that there is something specifically wrong with the sport of Bodybuilding (which, again, they've misidentified.)

   After reading the Post's first article and watching an accompanying video, I thought a better title for the series might be: 'Confessions of a Naïve Dreamer'. Three women who competed in Figure and Bikini divisions tell their tales of inferred exploitation while admitting to participating willingly whilst harboring ridiculous expectations.

     One woman says she felt pressured to take pictures in order to "keep myself relevant". You know what really keeps athletes relevant? Winning. 

    As a member of the IFBB, I have attended many shows where J.M Manion is taking pictures of the competitors. It is a rare moment when he is not surrounded by a bevy of ladies smiling and giggling with this influential photographer. But when I see them swarming I never think. "Wow! There goes the best in the sport securing their Pro Cards. Way to go, Champs!". That's just not how it works. Nude pictures don't make you a winner. The woman who is willing to 'earn' a Pro Card by losing her self respect is as guilty as the man who takes advantage of such a mindset.

       Another woman complained she was dropped by her sponsor when they learned she was pregnant. Outrageous? No. Smart business? Yes. If you have contractually agreed to represent a company as a Fitness athlete and you become unmarketable as a Fitness athlete, no successful business would continue to pay someone NOT to produce revenue for that company. Tough but true.

     If there is good to be done in these types of testimonials, let it be a message for ALL women, not just those in one particular sport. And that message might be this: 'Wise up!'. Sin abounds. Wherever there are humans, whatever industry, whatever country, there are people using and preying on other people. It's been so since the gates were closed on Paradise.

    Mothers raise your daughters to value themselves far above rubies, for their Father in Heaven surely does (Proverbs 31:10). And remind them we live in a fallen world; guard your heart. So, even if your daughter aspires to be a fitness competitor, she will be aware of the presence of wolves. Dignity ought not to be the price of success, but it so easily can be. Guard your heart.

     The Washington Post article unknowingly repeats an age old truth: We alone are responsible for our own choices. And the fact that more and more 'victims' of bad choices continue to come forward from all walks of life, it seems this is a truth that needs repeating.