Gay men tend to grapple with complex feelings about body image, influenced by societal ideals that often emphasize a lean and muscular physique. As a result, gay gym culture is often marked by a complex interplay of such body standards, which can both motivate and challenge individuals within the community to base their self-perception on chasing an idealized appearance.In this episode, we're exploring the intersection of gay culture and gym culture, along with how societal conceptions of masculinity on gay men's self-image and relationships can lead to feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, and the pursuit of often unrealistic physical ideals.Additional Resources:32. Gay Men and Body ObsessionFitness CultureThe History of How the Modern Day Gym Came to BeWrestling and Weightlifting: The WWF and Fitness in the 1980sThe Evolution of San Francisco’s Gay Gym CultureYMCAWorking, Out19. The Queer History of Disco24. Gay Villages: Won't You Be My Gaybor?Reported Effects of Masculine Ideals on Gay MenEating Disorder StatisticsGay Men and Body Image: What You Need to KnowIt’s Complicated: Exploring Why Gay Men Have Such a Unique Relationship with the GymThe Sweaty Homophobia of the GymGet Your MerchSupport the show