Welcome to the first in a brand new series of articles featuring your favorite female bodybuilders and the amazing ladies of RX Muscle. The aim of this series is to step beyond the usual interview format and probe the minds of these strong women. In some cases questions will be asked that provoke thought and discussion on a whole new level.
My first guest for this new series is none other than Sister Steele from the Rx Muscle Forum. Ever since she first appeared on the message boards she has opened up discussions and added valuable comments on many subjects that women were once too reserved to discuss openly. She has held nothing back when it comes to sharing information....and that is why we love her! With that in mind, it should come as no surprise to you that her chosen subject matter for this interview was the fetish/fantasy connection with female bodybuilders, sexual identity, erotica etc.
What follows is an open discussion on topics rarely touched on by the bodybuilding media so; fasten your seatbelts it is going to be an interesting journey!
First of all, thank you for taking part in this series opener. Now, getting down to business, you describe yourself as a ‘professional adult entertainer', care to elaborate?
"An adult entertainer is a professional in the adult industry who gets paid to engage in sexual activities that involve various degrees of physical contact with a client. There is quite an extensive and wide array of erotic services and different entertainers have different areas of expertise. I am well-versed in the fine arts of kink and BDSM and employ my acquired skill-set and imagination to enhance the psychosexual experience that a client seeks in a session. My forte is Erotic Fetish/Fantasy with a primary focus on Sthenolagnia, Cratolagnia and FMG."
What are your thoughts on the industry which promotes FBB to the fetish/fantasy market?
"I think female bodybuilders are exploited by many production companies who have discovered a niche in the industry to market the image of the female bodybuilder and turn a ridiculous profit. Unfortunately, everyone shares the wealth but the bodybuilder herself. The athlete is generally paid a flat rate, which is not even a fraction of the expenses necessary to sustain the monetary demands of this lifestyle, let alone compete. She is also required to sign a booklet of waivers relinquishing her rights to the use or distribution of all materials produced as well as all accumulated profits. Now granted the exposure has certainly benefitted some women in terms of recognition on the bodybuilding stage, but nothing substantially rewarding. It would be nice if we could live off everyone's good intentions."
Do you think that some FBB actually enjoy this kind of exposure?
"Networking and exposure can highly benefit many female bodybuilders in their pursuit of stardom and recognition. It is not ethical however to assume that all FBB enjoy this type of exposure that can range from fully clothed flexing to full frontal nudity. Pornography is also another type of exposure that has become increasingly popular in the industry and has been a major attraction for women who are looking to make quick and easy money. The individual choices women make in regards to the image they choose to portray through the various types of exposure is entirely dependent on the ethical boundaries women set for themselves. It is important to note that female bodybuilders seek acceptance through exposure because they have been conditioned to feel unappreciated and undesirable by the mainstream population. The truth is FBB are a hypersensitive breed of women with an inherent need to be desired and appreciated, like any other woman. Sadly, that has led many FBB to seek public acceptance by engaging in morally compromising acts that have given rise to a lot of controversy regarding the ethics and principles of women in this sport."
Some female bodybuilders come under fire for engaging in porn, care to comment?
"I think all women, without any distinction, come under fire for engaging in pornographic material. However, pornography is far too mainstream to market female bodybuilders on any significant level. For something to be sexy in mainstream terms, it must involve a gendered power difference. That is one reason many female bodybuilders engage in more girl/girl productions and most girl/boy productions are almost always exclusively fetish related. It's important to note that mainstream pornography objectifies and dehumanizes women by always portraying them in subdued, diminished or subjugated positions, and enjoying it. The unequal gender relations propagated by pornography contribute to the perception of power and domination over women using sex as a weapon, while continuing to reassert the sexual right of men over women. I am very opposed to the depictation of women as humiliated, submissive objects used to satisfy the male ‘right' for sexual fulfillment. I think that message greatly encourages sexual crime against women by portraying them as mere objects to be used, abused and injured on a whim. These are my feelings in regards to mainstream pornography.
"Fetish Erotica on the other hand, I am very fond of. It is the exact opposite of mainstream, with most productions depicting the female as a dominant, supreme being...worthy of worship and adoration. Unlike the submissive, feeble and pathetic state of whimpering women in mainstream porn. Female dominance is very prevalent in fetish. That is where I see the dominant personality of a female bodybuilder, in erotic production. In my opinion, the most prominent factor differentiating Erotica from Porn is...class. As for the ethical and moral issues surrounding FBB in either pornography or erotica, we can just add that to the never ending pile of issues everyone has with female bodybuilders and their choices!
Do you think that female bodybuilders are more liberal in terms of their sexuality?
"The female bodybuilder is definitely a sexually liberated creature. The contributing factors are both physical and psychological. However, it is important to note that a very fine line exists between ‘sexually liberated' and ‘loose'. Self-definition plays an important role in sexual ethics. So if ethically commendable conduct is a concern, a FBB must practice restraint and learn to harness those chemically induced sexual urges to avoid morally compromising, impulsive actions that can result from heightened states of arousal."
Do you feel that a muscular woman feels a greater sense of empowerment?
"Muscle can definitely make a woman ‘feel' more empowered. However, muscle dysmorphia is common among bodybuilders and can result in overconfidence and other excessively self conscious behavior. In other cases, muscle can be the external manifestation of inner strength.
"Either way, there is something very liberating, rebellious and empowering about being different. Regardless of this illusory empowerment and the insecurities bodybuilding feeds, it still forged us into the rare breed of women that we are proud to be."
One question that raised a lot of feedback on the forums was on the subject of female bodybuilders and bisexuality. Do you think female bodybuilders are more into sexual exploration with other women?
"The fact that the female bodybuilder's physique challenges traditional ideas of femininity, sex, gender and sexuality has resulted in the stereotype that female bodybuilders are mostly bisexual or gay. The female gender without any distinctions is apt to experimenting with various forms of sexual expression. Female bodybuilders are more forward and open about their sexual desires. This liberal attitude coupled with the chemically altered hormonal makeup I've discussed previously, might contribute to the fact that female bodybuilders are more likely to act upon that inherent desire to experiment sexually than women who lack that extra edge."
Care to comment on your own sexual preferences?
"I am a bisexual in a straight monogamous marriage."
Moving on...what do you think the future holds for female bodybuilding?
"I cannot be optimistic about the future of women's bodybuilding. However, I trust we sisters of steel will continue to exist for the love of iron that defines the essence of our being and forges us into the rare breed of women that we are. We will continue to exist with or without an industry to recognize us or a stage to compete on.
"In the long run, we hope to reserve the spot for our kind on the stages of competitive bodybuilding. And if we outgrow the stage someday, we will NEVER outgrow the Iron Playgrounds."
Finally, what part do you want to play in keeping FBB alive?
"Far more can be achieved through joining efforts than any individual attempt at keeping FBB alive. I will continue to contribute to the industry by passing on the knowledge and wisdom I have acquired through years of experience and will seize every opportunity I get to help women make informed decisions to better themselves and their lifestyle.
"I am grateful for this opportunity to voice my opinions in the Marked Personal series on matters I am very passionate about. It is an honor to be a staff member of RX Muscle and partake in the resurrection of our sport by shedding light on the harsh truths surrounding our existence. We will redeem ourselves by righting the wrongs we've committed against ourselves and the Iron in an effort to pave a more promising path for aspiring young females with a passion for bodybuilding."
Thank you Sister Steele for all you contribute to RX and for your honesty in this series opener.
Get ready for Marked Personal with Sassy 69....coming soon!
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