Today, Explained Swole Girl Summer
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Jun 27, 2025 
Constance Grady, a senior correspondent at Vox specializing in culture and gender, joins writer and strength training advocate Casey Johnston for a lively discussion. They explore the rapid rise of women in weightlifting, challenging conventional ideas of strength and fitness. The conversation highlights the cultural shift towards body positivity and the empowerment found in strength training. They also share personal journeys that redefine relationships with exercise, emphasizing joy and self-acceptance in the pursuit of fitness.
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Past Skinny-Only Fitness Focus
- Women's fitness once focused solely on being skinny, fueled by media and societal expectations.
- This ideal limited women's fitness goals and distorted the purpose of exercise for health.
Shift in Women's Fitness Ideals
- Three major factors shifted women's fitness ideals from ultra-thin to strong and healthy.
- The Kardashians, body positivity, and wellness culture redefined how women engage with their bodies.
Challenges in Strength Training Culture
- Strength training culture can replicate old body policing behaviors despite appearing healthier.
- Fitness can still trap women in a system demanding perfection and endless improvement.
