Muscle bear usually refers to a muscular, often hairy person who embodies strong and rugged bear traits. This term is most commonly used in the LGBTQ community, where bear is used to describe a broadly built, hairy man. Rather than replacing the traditional bear identity, muscle bear described a bear who maintained defining traits like body hair and a masculine presentation, but added a muscular physique.
Origins of the Term
Bear is believed to have emerged in the late 1970s. The term is believed to be a reaction to the dominant gay beauty ideal of the time, which emphasized youth, slimness, and little or no body hair. Bears instead celebrated larger bodies, body hair, facial hair, and rugged masculinity. The launch of Bear Magazine in 1987 helped popularize both the community and its terminology.
