Judging the gym: Stereotypes of female weight trainers

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate stereotypes of a female weight training population, in addition to the influence of an observer's gender and impression motivation on ratings of weight trainers’ physical and personality attributes. Two hundred and fifty-one participants (M = 19.94, SD = 3.02 years) rated one of four female targets (typical weight trainer, excessive weight trainer, non-weight trainer, or control) on a series of physical and personality attributes. The results indicated a significant main effect for target type on one personality, and four physical attributes (all ps < .05). However, the observers’ gender and impression motivation did not influence evaluation of the target's attributes (ps > .05). The findings provide evidence of some self-presentational advantages for female weight trainers, though future research should examine the extent to which these attributes are valued by both weight trainers and observers.