Why are we into muscular men?

One interesting theory I read, way back when I was an undergrad Anthropology student, was the idea that standards of beauty for men were determined by the primary weapon used in a culture. Our culture's image of a well-developed male torso, small waist, big shoulders, large arms, comes from the introduction of the bow and arrow. Cultures that never invented the bow and arrow have very different ideas of the ideal male physique.

The theory had the usual problems for a lot of older Anthropological theories, as it was too materialistic (in other words, the older idea that culture was determined by tools and material things, instead of the other way around, or even a give-and-take). But they're right about one thing: our standard of male beauty has always been about big, wide shoulders and hard, well-developed arms.

Alright, let's make this a little more personal now: why do I like muscular men?

I'm in love with masculinity, with maleness. I love a tall man with big, hard arms that can pick me up. Strength and power, physical, financial, mental, turn me on.

Armchair psychologists often speculate that a lot of women that like muscle men had an absent father figure. Though that's too easy an explanation, and in my case, not strictly true.

Alright, let me come at this from a different angle. One of my ex-boyfriends was the sort of guy that was into those video games like TOMB RAIDER or those games where Karate girls beat each other up. I always wondered why. After all, shouldn't they be true to form with gender identity, boys playing with GI Joes and girls play with Barbies and whatnot?

Though very few men would talk about it, the more obvious it became to me that there's an urge and a desire among men to actually be a beautiful, sexy young woman.

Once I realized that, a lot of my own interests crystalized. I want to actually BE a sexy, brawny and burly stud. There - sounds strange to say, doesn't it? It is true, though: when I read romance stories, usually, I root for the man and not the woman.

One more thing: occasionally, I'm asked what my feelings are on female muscle and bodybuilding.

I think they're dead sexy. I mean that. I love women that are tough and glamorous at the same time. I love weird, alternative types of sexuality, especially if that sexuality is also threatening and challenging to men. I love tattoos and piercings and leather.

I remember an interview once with a female bodybuilder. (I think it was Reney Toney, because this is absolutely something she'd say.) Someone asked her if it bothered her that lots of other people thought she looked like a freak. Her response?

"Well, I like looking like a freak."

COOL!