Forum
>
General / Nonfiction
>
Thread
Log in |
Register
Bill Dobbins (RIP) did two books called THE WOMEN and MODERN AMAZONS. They're photobooks, but they include brief sections about the history of women's bodybuilding. It's worth checking out since he had firsthand experience with legends like Lenda Murray.
Yeah I've read both, but like you said they're pretty short. I was looking for something more in-depth.
I think that a lot of the very early history of female bodybuilding is obscure. it did not just show up out of nowhere in the late 70s. But but because of how society was back then it was not documented well. and the further you go back the less information there is no matter the topic. If I have some time i will look for vintage literature mentioning female bodybuilders or just strong muscular women in general. you also need to look in Languages that are not english if you go back far. because other languages were just more relevant in general .but America and the uk had a very prudish period while others European countries were more open.
There isn't really a good comprehensive history text about female muscle so I thought hey maybe I should write one. I've been amassing a large library of footage and pictures, mostly from contests. If anyone would like to be involved with this project or discuss its scope please let me know.
Steve Wennerstrom was the the longtime IFBB Women's Historian. He's a literal encyclopedia of the competition side. You might reach out to him.
Yeah I’m familiar with Steve’s work. I wonder why he never wrote a long form work of history. That would be great.
I don’t think there’d be a huge commercial interest, but I was thinking basically a linear history of the sport, the major competitions and competitors. The trends in the amateur level vs pro level, and from region to region. Information on the evolution of training, diet and PED tactics, etc.
Competition archives already exist, even though they’re a bit inconsistent and scattered.
OK, one step further in understanding.
I am working on a project with slightly different intent, trying to pull together the roots of womens bodybuilding on a high level (including strength/acrobatic contests on venice beach, circus strongwomen and acrobats, mens bodybuilding as platform for the later female bodybuilding, feminist movements, beauty contests) and then carry on with the devlopment within the bodybuilding world itself (different categories etc.).
As said, much more on the high level, and focusing more on WBB as a social phenomenon rather then the puristic view on the competitive sport, and this will be integrated in my website. Maybe there is a potential to link the two efforts together .... just thinking out loud.
Yeah it sounds like you are very much on the same wavelength. I’ll send you a DM if that’s ok.
Your best resource for pre-internet bodybuilding coverage would be the magazines. WPW is an obvious choice, but I think the mainstream magazines like Muscle & Fitness, Ironman, Musclemag International, etc. would present the history of women's bodybuilding in the context of the sport as a whole. I haven't perused a magazine rack in decades, but I do remember women's coverage varied quite a bit by magazine and by years. It'd cost a small fortune to build a complete collection, but some of them might be online in digital archives.
Ruth Silverman (RIP), former Sr. Editor of Ironman talking women's bodybuilding on a podcast a few years before she passed:
https://www.bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/wp-co...
IFBB Head Judge Sandy Ranalli-Williamson is still alive and well, but she's in her mid-70s now, so if you're serious about your project, I'd reach out to her about a possible interview as soon as you can. But before doing so, be sure you learn a little about her by listening to this podcast:
https://ageisirrelevant.libsyn.com/meet-67-yr...
Sandy's good people. Additionally, Lenda Murray is also active and very accessible.
There isn't really a good comprehensive history text about female muscle so I thought hey maybe I should write one. I've been amassing a large library of footage and pictures, mostly from contests. If anyone would like to be involved with this project or discuss its scope please let me know.