: Some experts believe the "over-muscular" or "steroid look" may eventually fade as gay identity becomes more widely accepted, potentially reducing the internal pressure to "prove" masculinity through extreme physical size. Recommended Reads
: An article from The Gay & Lesbian Review discussing research on why muscularity remains a dominant aesthetic ideal. gay muscle
: There is a cultural theory that while many straight men may have "grandfathered in" muscle from school sports, many gay men build it intentionally later in life. This often results in a different aesthetic focus, such as prioritizing full-body balance or emphasizing lower-body development (like glutes and thighs) rather than just the traditional "bench press" upper-body focus. : Some experts believe the "over-muscular" or "steroid