Bearded Women: The Myth of Female Steroid Use

When steroid use is mentioned in the media it is almost always in reference to male athletes.  Recently, Lance Armstrong stole the spotlight when it became known that he had been doping.  A slew of other successful male athletes have also admitted to “juicing” in order to become bigger, faster, and stronger.  Dave Zirin (2012) argues in his book Bad Sports: How Owners are Ruining the Games We Love that steroids are incredibly common and are often ignored by coaches looking for a stronger team.  But are male athletes the only ones using steroids? I would imagine that many people have wondered how in the world some female body builders have such massive muscles; I know I have wondered if it is possible to do naturally.  While female body builders are what come to mind when thinking of women on steroids, the Association Against Steroid Abuse argues that most women who take steroids are not body builders but rather models or women who simply enjoy fitness (http://www.steroidabuse.com/Women-on-Steroids.html).  This brings up an interesting point.  In our society, the women we consider beautiful are typically very thin with little muscle mass.  Femininity is defined by daintiness whereas masculinity is defined by being strong.  Therefore, it seems illogical for women who are looking to have the ideal female body to take steroids that will give them large muscles.  However illogical it may seem, a recent study found that 5.3% of teen girls admitted to using anabolic steroids.  The girls were not likely to be athletes, but rather engage in a slew of risky behaviors including promiscuity and drug use.  The researcher that lead this study, Linn Goldberg, argues that teen girls take steroids to get a lean physique and to become stronger in order to protect themselves. However, the jury is still out as to whether or not this study accurately measures the steroid use of teen girls.  While Goldberg feels it is a serious problem, other experts feel the figures this study came up with are hugely exaggerated (http://www.steroidabuse.com/Women-on-Steroids.html).  While it is debated how big of a problem steroid use is among teen girls, it is a problem none the less.  I argue that instead of assuming females won’t engage in steroid use, we should assume that they might.  Therefore, curriculums that provide females with information on drug use should include steroids.  Such information needs to include the dangerous side effects of steroid use, specifically for women.  Female steroid use can result in irregular menstruation and possibly even amenorrhea, in which menstruation stops.  If this occurs, the woman may have become infertile.  In addition steroid use can result in severe acne, increased chances for liver cancer, and unhealthy cholesterol levels (http://www.livestrong.com/article/197919-side-effects-of-steroids-for-women/). Women on steroids do not look like the stereotypical image in which a woman grows a beard and develops a deep voice.  Instead, most women on steroids look completely normal and healthy.  Although they may appear healthy, they are actually putting their health at great risk.  Therefore, it is crucial that steroid use is considered a risk for teenage girls.  Although only a few teen girls may be engaging in steroid use now, it is important that education on steroids be provided so that the number of female steroid abusers does not increase in the future.

 

Association Against Steroid Abuse. (n.d.). Women on steroids. Retrieved from http://www.steroidabuse.com/Women-on-Steroids.html

McLaughlin, A. (2010, August 08). Side effects of steroids for women. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/197919-side-effects-of-steroids-for-women/

Reinberg, S. (2013, March 23). Many teen girls use steroids. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4507434&page=1

Zirin, Dave.  Bad Sports: How Owners Are Ruining the Games We Love. 2012