Bulging biceps, popping pectorals and black tank tops as far as the eye can see: this is the average view at the Baker Ferguson Fitness Center (BFFC). For many, the sheer size of many of the men who seem to live in the gym can be an intimidating factor in working out. I remember my freshman year being deathly afraid of inconveniencing these mass monsters to even the slightest degree for fear that they might crush my skull like an apple, or worse, consume me for the protein potential. Yet once you break through your initial shyness and muster the courage to talk to them, you learn that they couldn’t be farther from the mass monsters they appear to be.
Gym Bros — as they are colloquially called — are curious creatures. For the most part, they are incredibly temperate individuals who are more than happy to spot a newcomer on a heavy lift and are always the first to compliment you on gym progress, even if you yourself can’t see it. They cultivate an atmosphere that is fundamentally supportive, despite what a few bad apples might make you think. Popular culture likes to highlight this “Gym Douche” subspecies and project their insanity on the larger “Gym Bro” culture. Sure, Gym Bros might partake in a little mirror flexing, but I ask you, is it a crime to feel yourself? The fact is that at the vast majority of gyms and certainly BFFC, you’re never going to come into contact with a guy that threatens to kick your ass because you’re using a machine he wants. But the question does arise, what motivates these select cases of douchery? And what’s more, can we glean anything about what makes the Gym Bro tick?
Beyond the easy answer of roid rage, we have to find what motivates these men to even go to the gym in the first place. Does it come from a desire to get stronger? Perhaps. Is it an attempt to become more attractive to possible suitors? Maybe. Though at the core of the evilest gym douches, you’ll find a deep-seated insecurity. Whether rooted in childhood bullying or heartbreak that shattered their self-image, insecurity fuels their obsession with the gym, often manifesting in the misfortune of others. They convince themselves that if they could only grow bigger and look better, they might finally earn the validation they crave. Yet the tragic truth is that such validation almost never comes. They chase this prize like a carrot on a stick, and it inevitably leads to life-threatening extremes of drug use and eating disorders. While “Gym Douches” represent the extreme of wrestling with insecurity, the motivation is much the same within the wider “Gym Bro” community.
They might digest insecurity differently, but “Gym Bro” culture is undoubtedly heavily influenced by it. All it takes is seeing one fitness Instagram reel that makes you question your own body image, and before you know it, you’re in the thick of it. Social media is chock-full of men with physiques that would make Greek gods blush, leading to young men continuously falling down a dangerous rabbit hole. Believe me, there is no one more self-critical on Earth than the Gym Bro that’s flexing in front of the mirror. Forget about objectifying others; they objectify themselves! Sure, a part of them admires their hard work, but to a larger extent, the only things they notice are the aspects that could look better. Thoughts like “I wish I could lose these damn love handles” or “wow, my arms are so out of proportion” are just a few examples of the self-abasing thoughts that are going through their heads.
We exist in a society that foists impossible expectations upon young men and then refuses to acknowledge the damage that results. I implore you: look up “eating disorders” on Google Images and see how long it takes you to find one centered around a man. Can’t find any? Don’t worry — just go to your local gym.
