Newspaper Page Text
Page 10
Sexual Barriers Lifted for Females
by Dawn M. Lewis
“Muscles.” At one time, this
term was synonamous with
‘male’. That time is gone.
The widespread fitness craze
we are now, and have been,
experiencing throughout the
80’s, has transported this word
across conventional sexual
barriers and introduced it to the
flaccid, but ‘feminine’ set.
Currently, well-defined,
fabulously firm, sleek, muscled
physiques on females are very
much in vogue. We are discover
ing that sacrificing feminity is not
a prerequisite to obtaining and
maintaining muscles, and that
well-developed bodies actually
go hand-in hand with desirability
and sex appeal.
Female bodybuilding, though
it has been around for some time
was given a signficant shot in the
arm when competitor, Lisa
Lyons, with her enviable body, a
blend of lean muscularity and
seductive curvature, appeared
on the Phil Donahue Show in
1980. As the reigning queen of
the sport, she became a role
model for other women who
aspired to enter the
bodybuilding circle. Ms. Lyons
has since been replaced on the
throne by such current
forerunners as Carla Dunlap,
Rachel McLish, and the 1985 Ms.
Olympia, Cory Everson.
Women of muscle have come
of age. The media reflects it by
utilizing their beauty and
charisma in advertising. An ex
ample is the Miller Lite beer
commercial in which
bodybuilder, Lori Bowen lifts
comedian, Rodney Dangerfield
into the air with one hand. The
popular rock video, "California
Girls,” by Van Halen, features a
coflection of women with ex
quisite bodies, boasting visible
muscularity, as another
testimony of the emerging
definition of the ideal feminine
shape.
Better Bodies Model Manage
ment, BBMM of New York, N.Y.,
is the only modeling agency of its
kind, one specializing in
muscularly built models. This
offshoot of the bodybuilding
trend was begun in March 1984,
and represents both males and
females. Gladys Portugues, a
bodybuilder since 1980 and the
agency’s superstar, presently
commands a salary of $200 and
hour. FHer face and figure have
graced the pages of such
publications as American
Photographer, Vogue,
Cosmopolitan, Self, Muscle and
Fitness, Shape, and SportStyle, to
name only a few. She has
appeared on numerous televi
sion programs and can also be
seen on the fronts of greeting
and postcards. Other BBMM
models have been used in
various print ads and television
ads for products such as Coca
Cola. "Pumping Iron: II,” a
soon-to-be-released movie,
features several of these sought-
after models.
Splendid bodies and gorgeous
muscles are not magically come
by. Sweat and hard work with
weights are the only route to
achieving them, yet, results from
weight training are visible quick
ly. In fact, it is the fastest way to
body-shaping, which is one
reason why working out with
weights is catching on at such a
tremendous rate.
Weight training can be used to
reach several different goals:
strength training, rehabilitation
of joint and muscle injuries,
health and physical fitness
promotion, body sculpture, or
Sports Updates
Carley Dixon
Photo by Kathleen Tait
by Marie Roberts
Sports Editor
Body Building
Contrary to the song, it was the
women pausing and the men
posing as bulging bodies took
center stage March 23. The Mr.
Atlanta contest held in the World
Congress Center may have gone
unnoticed in the Atlanta Univer
sity Center had it not been for
Carlos (Body) Dixon. Dixon, a
junior at Morehouse College,
competed in the competition
and placed third in the Junior
Mr. Atlanta division.
A demanding and exhausting
sport, body building commits its
participants to strenuous train
Spelman Spotlight
April, 1985
Standing, owner and trainer Earl Wilson; on equipment, Spelmanite Melynee Lostridge. Photo by
Kathleen Tait
competitive bodybuilding. One
way of achieving a particular goal
is through the use of free
weights. This method, made up
of exercises using dumbells and
barbells, is the one commonly
used by most competitive
bodybuilders. Others prefer to
work out jn exercise machines
such as tautilus or Universal
Gym products. These are good
ways to work out, but do not
offer the same extensive variety
of exercises that the free weights
can.
In keeping up with the times,
several Spelmanites have begun
using weight training as a means
of getting in shape. Because the
facilities are not available to on
campus, the Future Man Gym
nasium, on Peters St., is a popular
place in which to work out.
Equipped with a variety of free
weights and a respectable
amount of Universal Gym
machines, this is a coed environ
ment for those who are serious
about their training. Though it
has been inhabited by Clark,
Morehouse, and Morris Brown
students for a few years, Spelman
students have only recently
become “regulars” at this gym.
Kathleen Tait and Dawn Lewis,
two Spelman freshman, dis
covered the benefits of
bodybuilding two months ago
when they were first introduced
to Future Man by some friend
from another school in the A.U.
Center. It was their intension to
get themselves in shape for the
soon-to-arrive spring season.
After only a week or so of
working out, they recognized
their apparant addiction to the
sport, and when approached by
Earle Wilson, the gym’s owner, a
former bodybuilder, and the
respresentative to the Amature
Athletic Union for the state of
Georgia, they only needed a
little convincing to persuade
them to commit to a training
regiment for "serious”
bodybuilding, with the eventual
intent to compete. "At first, I
thought training for
bodybuilding meant that I would
soon walk around looking like
the women in Muscle and
Fitness, with veins popping out
all over my bumpy-looking
body,” admits Dawn, "but Earle
made me realize that one looks
like that only when she isflexing.
Now, I actually can't wait to look
like the women in the sports
magazinel”
Since the onset of their train
ing, in January, both Kathleen
and Dawn have made significant
accomplishments at the gym,
according to Wilson, who is
personally acting as their trainer.
The pair can usually be found
working out six times a week, for
at least 2 hours a day, and
sometimes as many as 4. “With
my 21 hour class load it can be
hectic sometimes, but I love, so I
am here,” Kathleen confides.
When summer break begins, and
they can better regulate their
nutritional needs, as well as
dedicate more time to their
training, advancement toward
their goals should come at an
even quicker rate. Meanwhile,
their patience and dedication
have paid off in another way,
they have landed part-time jobs
as fitness instructors at a nearby
Y.M.C.A.
For further information on
Future Man Gymnasium: call
688-5574.
Editors note: This article was
written by Dawn Lewis who has
taken on body building as a new
sport in her life.
ing. Dixon was no exception. His
training included daily workouts
from 4-6 hours and continuous
dieting. His results were pumped
pectorals and bulged biceps.
Moving muscles to the beat,
Dixon showed definition form
head to toe.
In a competition which in
clude over 100 contestants he
proved to be a contender.
Tennis
Still stroking without choking,
Spelman’s number one tennis
player, Robin Dixon, dethroned
both Agnes Scot’s and Georgia
State’s number one players. The
teams met in the Georgia Tech
Collegiate Tournament in
March.
When asked what tennis
means to her the junior
answered, "it’s a hobby.”
Hobby or not, Dixon has been
able to hold her title as
Spelman’s best player since her
freshman year and also carry a
double major.
Basketball
Double Trouble was what
Clark College had to offer their
opponents in basketball this
year. Throughout the season
Ernest Lee and Yvonne Owens
remained ranked as two of the
best players in the nation.
Recognizing their achievements,
the Atlanta Tip Off Club
honored both athletes with a
"Player of the Year” award.
Track
What started off wrong ended
up right for Vincent Cobb, triple
jumper at Morehouse College.
During the Morehouse In
vitational Relays last month,
Cobb, along with nine other
tripple participants, was unable
to reach the 45’ qualification
mark in the first flight.
On the second flight, Cobb
alone qualified with a 49'-9”. At
the end of the end of the
competition only two other
jumpers had qualified, but they
were unable to beat Cobbs
distance and left him with the
first place trophy.
In highschoolCobbwasonlya
long jumper, but since his
freshman year with the Maroon
Tigers, the senior has competed
in both the long jump and the
triple jump.
Though the grounds were wet
and the winds high, the athlete
explained that the weather had
no real effect on his jumps. "I just
had a bad approach,” he ad
mitted. His best jump is 52'-6”
and was made in the nationals.
Cobbs goal for the year is to
reach 54’.
The "Most Outstanding
Athlete Award” for the track
meet went to the Maroon Tiger’s
Cary Bacon. Bacon received the
award for breaking the
Morehouse record in the 1500
meters. He had set the record in
last years invitational relays.