DEP. OF EXERCISE > Research > Ongoing research > Sport Politics Welfare > PhD PROJECT > NTW The cultivated body

The cultivated body – a sociological study of attitudes and behaviors towards body modification in associative fitness

My Ph.d. project has as its point of focus the male and female users of fitness and health clubs and their opinions, attitudes and practices with regard to an ideal body and appearance enhancement/modification. Based on a survey and open-ended interviews, this project will illustrate how body appearance matter and more precisely emphasize on which methods and means men and women are willing to use in relation to enhance and modify their body appearance.

The study of male and female users of fitness and health clubs and their opinion and methods to body enhancement/modification also leads to a study of gender. What impact do gender and the gendered social order have on the users’ methods and means to body enhancement/modification?

How are the hegemonic feminity and masculinity constructed in 21th century fitness culture? Considering the fitness industry as a part of the popular culture will lead us to an understanding of how the gendered body is constructed and how it sets the limits for a hegemonic masculinity and a hegemonic feminity in contemporary western society. 

The Ph.d project is believed to be ended in february 2012.

Head of project: Nicole Thualagant

Supervisor: Gertrud Pfister