The 1980’s
This is when it happened. When bodybuilding was introduced to the mainstream. Through “Pumping Iron”, Arnold, and a slew of other sources. Health clubs and gyms became more popular and the bigger, sexier, more aesthetic stars became Icons. And by the time the 1980’s hit, people like Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude Van Dam, and Arnold became the epitome of “man”, opening America to a new way of thinking. Hard lines were introduced, and they haven’t left us to this day.
Sure, Bodybuilding had technically been around a long time with the writings of Charles Atlas’ “The World Most Perfectly Developed Man” in the 1920’s. But the bodybuilders were big, stronger, they were real life superheros. And once Arnold found world wide fame in 80’s action movies. The world started change the way the perceived what a real man was supposed to look like. And American physique expectations have never been the same since.
