What About The Morals of Bodybuilders

by Prof. E M Orlick, B.A., B.Sc., M.A., Dip. M.S.P.E.

IN the September issue of 'Iron Man,' Peary Rader writes an, interesting editorial entitled "Modern Morals of Body Builders." In this, he says "we have been aware of a very unpleasant situation that is growing worse all the time." Then he quotes a prominent studio operator as saying that "the morals of bodybuilders and weightlifters were the lowest and worst of any group of humanity." He continues: "I recall no time in history when the moral fiber of our people was weaker than it now is. Perhaps the most prominent feature of this let down is the almost complete lack of any sex restraint especially among our young people." He says further: "This lack of restraint in normal sex relations is bad enough, but there is another phase that is even more appalling and it has obtained a particularly vicious hold on our bodybuilding game. We refer to abnormal relations whose adherents are generally referred to as 'queers'."

Mr. Rader goes on to say that the "queers" are invading our physique shows and lifting contests, that they are getting into our gyms and into the profession of physique photography and that they are polluting our bodybuilders and bringing a bad name to the profession of bodybuilding.

I do not know Mr. Rader personally but have read many of his articles and have high respect for his intelligence and integrity. His statements are indeed alarming.

There is a great danger however, in drawing conclusions from a few isolated facts. Before you can condemn a group as a whole, you must study the morals of this group, as related to the morals of the population as a whole, and as related to accepted moral standards. Only after a scientific study, such as made by Dr. Kinsey, can we draw conclusions, and even he has been criticized by some authorities for not having sufficient evidence to back up his statements. It stands to reason then, that the casual observations of one or two men with respect to the morals of bodybuilders count for little or nothing, and do not justify the statements made by Mr. Rader or those he spoke to.

I do not say that Mr. Rader's facts are not true.. There may be physique photographers who are 'queers.' However I know a hundred who are definitely normal. There may be bodybuilders who are not entirely normal but of the hundreds upon hundreds I have had dealings with, I can name no one who could be called a sexual pervert. It is also true that physique shows and weightlifting contests may attract some homosexual spectators but the vast majority are young men who are keenly interested in the sport of bodybuilding. They come to see great performers who represent what they themselves hope to become some day through hard physical training and rigid health practices.

Newspaper accounts in recent years have disclosed the fact that some outstanding musicians are drug addicts. Would we conclude from this that all musicians are drug addicts? I know of a notorious gambler who trains with weights almost every day. Does this mean that all weight lifters are gamblers?

Dr. Kinsey from his scientific study estimates that approximately one-third of all American males have had at least one homosexual experience during their lives. The number of confirmed homosexuals or 'queers' is only a small percentage of this, but it means that in any audience regardless of what kind of a show is being presented there will be some perverts. If you went to a boxing show and saw some 'queers' in the audience would you conclude that the majority of spectators were 'queers' or that this was evidence that the boxers were being perverted? Certainly not!

Mr. Rader suggests that the 'queers' are attracted to our physique shows, and to the photographic profession associated with bodybuilding, because of the thrill that they get out of viewing male bodies. This may be true, but by the same token they would be attracted to our boxing shows, wrestling contests, track meets, gymnastic shows, swimming meets, and bathing beaches; but we would not conclude from this that boxers, wrestlers, track stars, gymnasts, swimmers and beach bathers, "had the lowest and worst morals of any group of humanity."

I do not challenge Mr. Rader's basic facts, they are undoubtedly true, but I do challenge the conclusions he has drawn from them. In fact I will go even further and state that in my considered opinion the moral standards of bodybuilders and weightlifters are much higher than that of our population as a whole.

For many years I have been keenly interested in the subject of sex education, have studied the subject thoroughly, have written countless articles on sex problems, have published books on the subject. and have delivered hundreds of speeches. In addition I have led discussion groups, have answered thousands of questions from the public platform and in private discussions and have dealt with many more through correspondence. On the basis of this experience I can state without hesitation that the moral standards of weightlifters and bodybuilders are higher than those of the general population as a whole.

Dr. Kinsey found that education has a tremendous effect upon the individual and his findings show that there is approximately seven times as much premarital intercourse among the lower education group as there is among the upper level education group.

Very few of our bodybuilders fall into the lower education group. As far as formal education is concerned, most of them have certainly gone beyond grammar school and we recruit many followers from the high schools and universities, and also a considerable number from the professions. Added to his formal education, is a great deal of self-education, in which the bodybuilder indulges. His interest in health and physical fitness leads him to subscribe to magazines such as this, which carry many informative articles on all phases of mental and physical health. Bodybuilders are interested in muscular development and must know something about anatomy and physiology to follow their exercise systems. They learn about diet, personal hygiene, good health habits, value of sleep and fresh air; and they are interested in psychology, in sex education and the like. They are continually educating themselves along lines which tend to raise their moral standards. For ample evidence to this effect, one need only look at the type of articles which appear in the leading bodybuilding magazines, look at the innumerable letters which are sent in to the authors and editors of these magazines, or look at the various health books and booklets for which orders come in, in an endless stream from BODYBUILDERS.

When a young man makes up his mind that he wants to build his health, strength, endurance, symmetry and muscularity through systematic exercise; when he spends hard earned money on courses of instruction and lifting equipment and when he devotes countless hours of hard work to achieve his ends, he is certainly not going to throw all this away by dissipation, debauchery and immoral living. No one values lightly something he has worked for, hour after hour, week after week, and month after month. It takes a year or more to build a reasonably good body and some of our prominent physiques have been at it for many years. They are all proud of their bodies and of their way of life and have only the highest of self-respect. It is only natural and necessary that they be keenly interested in everything that is important to their continued development and well-being. It takes will-power and determination to enter the ranks of the bodybuilders and it takes moral fiber and perseverance to stay there. How could such a select group have anything but a set of moral standards that are definitely higher than that of the general population.

Let us look at life as it is, let us face the reality which exists, let us not see things through rose-colored glasses or glasses shaded in black; let us look at facts and not fancies, let us not condemn a carload of tomatoes because one is bad. Let us see our fellow bodybuilders for what they are young, red-blooded, clean-living citizens, who are inspired with purpose and determination and who are exerting tremendous effort in their relentless struggle to achieve mental and physical perfection.

I have only the greatest admiration and highest respect for the bodybuilders of this great land and, though some may falter, I feel confident that the vast majority will always be a credit to themselves and to the great sport of bodybuilding.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

- Arthur Zeller, (above) is a comparative newcomer. He has made such sensational gains in the last year that he now ranks with the top bodybuilders in the East. In particular his arms and abdominals are outstanding. This is the type of vigorous and clean-cut young man, bodybuilding builds.

- Felix Gedraitis, (right) is only 16 years old and is already World famous because of the excellence of his weight trained physique. When you begin training at an early age, like Felix did you cannot help but become morally and physically strong. Lon photos