Fit and fit in – exploring women’s IPED trajectories

This article addresses the use of Image and Performance-Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) among women, aiming to describe and analyse how gender, social context, and risks influence IPED trajectories among women, from initiation to possible discontinuation. The study utilises a case study approach, drawing on semi-structured interviews with three Swedish women. Based on an analytical framework consisting of transitional subcultural spaces and what can account for more non-normative life courses, the results demonstrate that the onset of IPED use occurs before entering gym culture as well as within it. Social connections are essential to initiation; however, accessibility and knowledge about side effects associated with specific IPEDs also influence the choice of substances and their use. Despite not all using IPEDs for muscle- building purposes, their bodies elicited reactions from their surroundings related to challenging gender norms and a non-normative life course. Discontinuation of IPEDs is associated with adverse effects, legal violations, and accessibility issues, as well as transitions linked to ceasing athletic pursuits and changing one’s social circles. The study highlights the complexity of IPED use among women, placing IPED trajectories in transitional subcultural spaces, underscoring the need for further research.