One thing I never imagined I would be asked in my life was if I take steroids.
It’s happened. Many times.
The strange thing about it is, more often than not, it has been people working in health professions who have asked me the question. A while back I was getting acupuncture done by a friend who was finishing up her degree. I stopped going to her because I found out her supervisors all thought I was on steroids. They asked her if I took them, she said no, and they said they didn’t believe her. They thought my traps were big and I must take steroids. I didn’t see a reason to continue to get medical treatment from people who thought I was a liar and taking drugs. They clearly weren’t going to give me the proper advice or respect.
The next person to ask me the question was my plastic surgeon. It was actually after my breast augmentation surgery when I went in for a check-up. I knew he was going to ask me. He did what most people do – they pause for a moment and then they say, “Can I ask you a personal question?” I told him, “Go right ahead.” And he asked me if I was on steroids.
I laughed, told him he wasn’t the first person to ask and that I wasn’t offended. I told him no, I wasn’t.
‘Cause I’m not.
“Huh,” he said. “Well, you should have been a bodybuilder.”
Yeah, I get that one a lot, too. Somehow having muscles only equates to bodybuilding for most people.
So, I get it – I’ve got calves and I’ve got quads, men compliment me on my traps and my arms are pretty muscular. But really, do I actually look like someone who takes steroids? I’m not a very big person and I definitely look like a girl. Or is it just people are so unused to being around muscular women? Is anything other than a soft or skinny woman deemed unnatural and suspect?
No doubt I probably have a higher testosterone level than the average girl. That is what my plastic surgeon surmised. He seemed more intrigued than judgmental, though, which was a nice change of pace. I think he thought I was lucky and I should use it to my advantage. He mentioned the bodybuilder thing to me a couple more times after that conversation.
But then again, it should hardly be surprising that a man whose career is about physical transformation should express an appreciation for bodies of all shapes and types.
So, no, for the record, I am not on steroids and never will be. I would never risk the feminine aspects of my body for something like that. I love being a woman and I love the power of combining strength and beauty. Because really, how can I not be pleased with the fact that men are both jealous of my calves AND admire them in a pair of heels.
