--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eighties bodybuilding was the time for…" description: "\"Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It was so freakish and unheard of for a woman to do that then.\" — Katy O'Brian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg" --- # Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It… ![“Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It was so freakish and unheard of for a woman to do that then.” quote by Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg) > “Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It was so freakish and unheard of for a woman to do that then.” [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights past gender norms that made women’s bodybuilding seem odd, urging recognition of progress. **In simple terms:** Women faced stigma in bodybuilding. Key Takeaway Celebrate past progress. Themes gender equality body image sports history Mood reflective historical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - sports journalism - education - advocacy - media analysis Key Concepts social norms female empowerment cultural change Questions to Reflect On - How have perceptions changed since the 80s? - What barriers remain for women in sports? A Different Perspective May ignore ongoing inequalities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bodybuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) [Eighties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighties/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) ## Related quotes > [Female bodybuilding started out as a circus attraction, and I guess it still feels unnatural to some people, especially in a place that's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/female-bodybuilding-started-out-as-a-circus-attraction-and-i-guess-it/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [When I was growing up, there was always this feeling of, 'You can't do these things.' It was nothing that my parents instilled in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/when-i-was-growing-up-there-was-always-this-feeling-of-you-can-t-do/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I think in the '80s I probably could have held my own, but modern bodybuilding is a whole other beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-think-in-the-80s-i-probably-could-have-held-my-own-but-modern/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I went to a gym and I never, in a million years, would have considered bodybuilding. But they showed me there's lots of different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-went-to-a-gym-and-i-never-in-a-million-years-would-have-considered/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Sometime in the eighties, Americans had a new set of 'traditional values' installed. ... the poor and the middle class were shaken down, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/sometime-in-the-eighties-americans-had-a-new-set-of-traditional/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [Music was far more tribal in the Eighties; you were into one band and that was it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-kemp/music-was-far-more-tribal-in-the-eighties-you-were-into-one-band-and/) [Martin Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-kemp/) > [I was a decent cook - competent enough to turn out the standard Eighties chalet fare: beef Wellington, banoffee pie, Delia's chocolate bread-and-butter pudding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-nightingale/i-was-a-decent-cook-competent-enough-to-turn-out-the-standard/) [Mary Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-nightingale/) > [Part of me is stuck in my childhood in the Eighties. I actually watch 'The Neverending Story,' 'Labyrinth,' and 'Legend' over and over again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/part-of-me-is-stuck-in-my-childhood-in-the-eighties-i-actually-watch/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Much of the stuff I relate to is from the Eighties, at least cinematically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/much-of-the-stuff-i-relate-to-is-from-the-eighties-at-least/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [In the Sixties, it was mods and rockers, and hippies and casuals, whereas in the early Eighties, there was Goths, punks, mods, skinheads, New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-meadows/in-the-sixties-it-was-mods-and-rockers-and-hippies-and-casuals/) [Shane Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-meadows/) > [“My last good memory of the eighties, before everything went dark, was being sent to Wormwood Scrubs. Not because I’d broken the law again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/my-last-good-memory-of-the-eighties-before-everything-went-dark-was/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Like anybody who grew up in the Eighties, I cringe at the thought of these movies being remade, because of the corniness and cheesiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/like-anybody-who-grew-up-in-the-eighties-i-cringe-at-the-thought-of/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) > [In Europe the world of fashion is too conservative, very eighties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/in-europe-the-world-of-fashion-is-too-conservative-very-eighties/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [“The eighties happened. The nineties happened. Death and sickness and getting fat and going bald happened. I traded lots of dreams for a bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-eighties-happened-the-nineties-happened-death-and-sickness-and/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I'm really sick of anthems. Every song has to be a very big singalong thing - it feels very Eighties. There are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-m-really-sick-of-anthems-every-song-has-to-be-a-very-big-singalong/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) ## More by Katy O'Brian > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Hollywood has made a big push to be more supportive of female writers and directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/hollywood-has-made-a-big-push-to-be-more-supportive-of-female-writers/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [You really want to make everybody as three-dimensional as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/you-really-want-to-make-everybody-as-three-dimensional-as-possible/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I've always had a fascination with Catwoman. I think Catwoman is so much fun. I've been obsessed with Xena since I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-ve-always-had-a-fascination-with-catwoman-i-think-catwoman-is-so/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [As an actor, you have to go with the flow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-an-actor-you-have-to-go-with-the-flow/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [As a kid, acting was my big escape. It's a way to experience worlds that I might not otherwise get to and to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/as-a-kid-acting-was-my-big-escape-it-s-a-way-to-experience-worlds/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I found figure competitions... I got stronger. I was very confident with how I looked. It felt great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-found-figure-competitions-i-got-stronger-i-was-very-confident-with/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [It's crazy to me that people still need to feel better than other people because of something as simple as skin colour or sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/it-s-crazy-to-me-that-people-still-need-to-feel-better-than-other/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [When I got my diagnosis, the first thing I did was look up actors and martial artists who had Crohn's. I needed to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/when-i-got-my-diagnosis-the-first-thing-i-did-was-look-up-actors-and/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I think a lot of people hopefully would agree, if you are getting cast, that's a good thing. And if you are getting work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-think-a-lot-of-people-hopefully-would-agree-if-you-are-getting-cast/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Genetics play a huge part in just how big you can get it in general for everybody, but it's something that could be done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/genetics-play-a-huge-part-in-just-how-big-you-can-get-it-in-general/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I don't know any woman that hasn't been harassed at a gym or maybe touched inappropriately, or something like that. That builds up inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-don-t-know-any-woman-that-hasn-t-been-harassed-at-a-gym-or-maybe/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I always did stuff in the arts in school, and we had a commercial agent when we were younger, but we found that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-always-did-stuff-in-the-arts-in-school-and-we-had-a-commercial/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [A lot of martial artists that I know, a lot of officers that I know, they all are really into comic book fandoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/a-lot-of-martial-artists-that-i-know-a-lot-of-officers-that-i-know/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [I love having muscles; it makes me feel really confident. I love what my body can do. It's just one of those things where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-love-having-muscles-it-makes-me-feel-really-confident-i-love-what/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) [Explore all 100 Katy O'Brian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) ## More Bodybuilding quotes > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [I don't believe in bodybuilders using steroids. If a man doesn't have enough male hormones in his system to create, a nice hard, muscular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-reeves/i-don-t-believe-in-bodybuilders-using-steroids-if-a-man-doesn-t-have/) Steve Reeves > [“The barbells and dumbbells you hold in your hands and the way you use them have stories to tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-cecil/the-barbells-and-dumbbells-you-hold-in-your-hands-and-the-way-you-use/) [Craig Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-cecil/) > [My first bodybuilding competition was the 2003 NPC Northern Colorado, where I was a light-heavyweight weighing in at 192 lbs. I was very nervous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-heath/my-first-bodybuilding-competition-was-the-2003-npc-northern-colorado/) [Phil Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-heath/) > [After school I would go to the gym where I actually did Olympic weightlifting. And usually that night I would do bodybuilding stuff, core,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/after-school-i-would-go-to-the-gym-where-i-actually-did-olympic/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [There is no reason to be alive if you can't do the deadlift!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-pall-sigmarsson/there-is-no-reason-to-be-alive-if-you-can-t-do-the-deadlift/) Jon Pall Sigmarsson > [When working out, play your favorite music loudly for an extra boost of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/when-working-out-play-your-favorite-music-loudly-for-an-extra-boost/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [A lot of guys have better genes but if you work hard and consistently, you can outperform them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zane/a-lot-of-guys-have-better-genes-but-if-you-work-hard-and-consistently/) [Frank Zane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zane/) > [The only way to be a champion is by going through these forced reps and the torture and pain. That's way I call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-only-way-to-be-a-champion-is-by-going-through-these-forced-reps/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I got into bodybuilding very young - I was 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-pasternak/i-got-into-bodybuilding-very-young-i-was-13/) [Harley Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-pasternak/) > [What is the point of being on this Earth if you are going to be like everyone else?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/what-is-the-point-of-being-on-this-earth-if-you-are-going-to-be-like/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [People ask me why I work so hard and why I have this compassion to reach the top and be great. I respond by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/people-ask-me-why-i-work-so-hard-and-why-i-have-this-compassion-to/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [Gold's was the first bodybuilding gym made for bodybuilders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gold/gold-s-was-the-first-bodybuilding-gym-made-for-bodybuilders/) [Joe Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gold/) > [Bodybuilding isn’t 90 minutes in the gym..it’s a lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-priest/bodybuilding-isn-t-90-minutes-in-the-gym-it-s-a-lifestyle/) Lee Priest > [Most people use excuses to cover up mistakes, but it takes less time to do something right the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/most-people-use-excuses-to-cover-up-mistakes-but-it-takes-less-time/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) [Browse all 322 Bodybuilding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bodybuilding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It was so freakish and unheard of for a woman to do that then.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katy O'Brian" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-bodybuilding-it-was-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bodybuilding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-bodybuilding-it-was-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/katy-o-brian-6067_bodybuilding_eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-b_1627313.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eighties bodybuilding was the time for bodybuilding. It was so freakish and unheard of for a woman to do…” — Katy O'Brian", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Katy O'Brian", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Eighties bodybuilding was the time for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-bodybuilding-it-was-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/eighties-bodybuilding-was-the-time-for-bodybuilding-it-was-so/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```