Firm but Shapely, Fit but Sexy, Strong but Thin: The Postmodern Aerobicizing Female Bodies

Abstract

This paper aims to reconstruct the cultural dialogue surrounding the female body image in aerobics. To do this I have used several methods: ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, and media analysis. I found that the media ideal is a contradiction: firm but shapely, fit but sexy, strong but thin. Likewise, women’s relationships with the media image are contradictory: They struggle to obtain the ideal body, but they also find their battles ridiculous. I interpret my findings from a Foucaultian perspective to show how the discourse surrounding the female body image is part of a complex use of power over women in postmodern consumer society. In addition, I assume a feminist perspective that assigns an active role to the individual aerobicizers to question the power arrangement.

Media Influence on Drive for Thinness and Drive for Muscularity

“…media's representation of men and women is becoming increasingly more restrictive (Daniel & Bridges, 2010) and may be contributing to the escalation of body dissatisfaction (Tiggemann, 2011). Female models in the United States are generally 15% below the average female weight (Hawkins, Richards, Granley, & Stein, 2004) and Western (e.g., United States, New Zealand) media trends suggest that women must be thin but still have an athletic, toned, and tight body (Markula, 1995). Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that a meta-analysis of media influence found a relationship between exposure to media images depicting the thin-ideal body and body image concerns in women (country of each study was not specified; Grabe, Ward, & Hyde, 2008).…”

Negotiating female judoka identities in Greece: A Foucauldian discourse analysis

“…In order to comply with the socially constructed ideal of 487 femininity, women engage in various disciplinary practices, such as diets and physical activity 488 obtain a "feminine" body and others (e.g. body-building) are thought to obtain a "masculine" 490 body (Markula, 1995;McGannon & Spence, 2010, 2012. Foucault (1977) wrote about "docile 491 bodies", referring to disciplinary practices aiming to control the human body.…”

“…In all times and places, these social standards are shaped by 484 everyday communications, practices and knowledge. An ideal feminine body is articulated as fit, 485 thin and sexy (Markula, 1995) and a feminine woman is attractive to the opposite sex 486 (McGannon & Spence, 2012). In order to comply with the socially constructed ideal of 487 femininity, women engage in various disciplinary practices, such as diets and physical activity 488 obtain a "feminine" body and others (e.g.…”

Representing valued bodies in PE: a visual inquiry with British Asian girls

“…between hegemonic masculinity and performances of proficient and strong sporting bodies 59 (Connell, 1987(Connell, , 1995Wellard, 2006) simultaneously marks female sporting bodies as 60 unfeminine (Cockburn & Clarke, 2002) or associates women's physical activity with 61 maintenance of a "not too muscley", shapely and aerobicised appearance (Gorely et al, 2003; 62 Markula, 1995).Theoretical framework 63…”