“I don’t need a flat tummy; I just want to run fast” – self-understanding and bodily identity of women in competitive and recreational sports

Abstract

BackgroundWomen who exercise intensively, whether competitive or recreational, devote a lot of time and energy into exercise, which requires high levels of ambition and motivation. The aim of the study is to investigate the self-understanding and bodily identity of different (competitive vs recreational) forms of exercise, and to investigate the role of important others (parents, siblings and social relations) for this self-understanding.MethodsA qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. An interactional psychodynamic framework informed the development of the interview questions focusing on the influence of their family, peers, and the meaning of exercise for their identity. Participants were recruited via local training centers and via the Danish Athletic Sports Association. A total of twenty highly physically active female athletes were interviewed, ten of whom participated in competitions (“competitve athletes”) and ten of whom did not (“recreational athletes”).ResultsSelf-related and social similarities and differences between competitive athletes and recreational athletes were found. Recreational athletes had supportive but not ambitious parents and used sport to reinforce their bodily self-efficacy and identity, while competitive athletes had highly engaged parents, especially fathers, and competed to externalize their identities as athletes. Correspondingly, the meaning of exercise was the activity itself, for recreational athletes, while competition was the means to the end of achievement, for competitive athletes.ConclusionAll athletes are affected and triggered by their biography and their environment. The biographical tradition of sport culture must be recognized as important for the engagement in different forms of physical activity in health and competition settings. If research can make the conflicts and relations of the self visible in sports culture, this could strengthen the recognition that the overall bodily well-being of athletes is important for women’s health.

Women and competitive sport: perceived barriers to equality

“…Frequent injuries and difficulty recoveries are further barriers to remaining in competitive sport (Isorna et al, 2019). Participants report how the injuries they have suffered often take an emotional toll on them due to their deep attachment to sport, as previously identified by Roessler and Muller (2018). The intense and continuous competitive pressure athletes are subjected to over time is another factor that causes them to retire from competitive sport, as previous research has also shown (Dwyer et al, 2006;Galatti et al, 2019;Isorna et al, 2019).…”

An Analysis of Women’s Fitness Demands and Their Influencing Factors in Urban China

“…Meanwhile, the external environmental factors affecting women’s fitness demands are mainly reflected in their social and family environment. Many studies have shown that social and family environment affect people’s motivation, especially the motivation and behavior of married women [ 6 , 16 , 26 ]. Among these, family environment is the main external factor affecting women’s fitness preference or time and opportunity for fitness participation.…”

“…For example, women aged 26–35 participate in sports for leisure and in order to accompany their family [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The top three reasons why women aged 36–45 participate in sports are to strengthen their health [ 26 , 27 ], relieve stress, and accompany their families [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Women aged 46–50 mainly participate in sports to strengthen their health, to accompany their families, and to prevent diseases [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

Los significados del deporte de competición para las mujeres deportistas

“…La planificación y la organización se hacen indispensables para las mujeres deportistas, que tienen que compaginar un gran número de actividades y roles (estudios, trabajo o responsabilidades familiares) con la práctica deportiva (Gallego 2008). En este sentido, para muchas parece que el deporte les ha enseñado el valioso significado de la organización (Roessler y Muller 2018).…”