Make Alphas Great Again – How Online Fitness Spaces Turn Biology into a Moral and Political Ideology
The project is grounded through one driving question: How do online fitness communities transform biological frameworks related to testosterone, masculinity, and discipline into moral and political frameworks that influence young men’s right-wing identity formation? To investigate this nuanced question, we took on the challenge of examining the evolution of the online fitness community through different angles, using our assigned analytical objects, such as masculinity, testosterone, and identity politics. These objects will not only aid in understanding the biological claims circulating in these communities, but also in how these claims are socially reconstructed to serve and support different cultural and political ideologies.
Project from the Fall 2025 108 course (HBS Major) mentored by Dr. Danielle Carr.
About the Authors
Azaan Bilal is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Human Biology & Society. Azaan is from Long Island, New York and is interested in the intersection of human biology, clinical medicine, and athletic performance. Through his academic coursework and hands-on experiences as a sports medicine intern, he has developed a strong appreciation for how biological systems, injury, and recovery directly impact patient outcomes, particularly in athletes. Azaan aspires to attend medical school and pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon, with the long-term goal of working with a professional basketball team. In his free time, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, training in the gym, and traveling to new countries.
Rahi Patel is an undergraduate student at UCLA, majoring in Human Biology & Society. Originally from Anaheim, California, he is passionate about the connections between biology, medicine, and social justice, especially in understanding health and illness within broader social contexts. Through his research experiences, clinical opportunities, and volunteer work, he has developed an interdisciplinary appreciation not just for science, but also for how policy, government, community health, and other facets of everyday life affect patient outcomes. Rahi aspires to become a physician with an interest in orthopedic surgery, and he also aims to work on the business side of healthcare to promote fair, efficient, and accessible care systems. In his free time, he enjoys watching and playing basketball, hiking with friends and family, discovering new restaurants, and working out.
Joshua Thomas is an undergraduate student at UCLA with strong interests at the intersection of biology, medicine, and human health. Through hands-on experiences in research, sports medicine, and clinical care, he has developed a deep appreciation for how science translates into patient care. Joshua aspires to pursue medical school, with a particular interest in orthopedics and sports medicine, driven by his own experiences with athletic injuries and recovery. He is also interested in understanding medicine beyond the clinic, including research, leadership, and health systems. In his free time, Joshua is a tennis coach at UCLA, and he enjoys playing basketball, working out, and spending time with friends and family.