Studying Corporality in the Gym: Practical Reflections for the Social Sciences

• Main Author: Alexis Sossa Rojas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos 2015-11-01
• Series: methaodos.revista de ciencias sociales
• Subjects: cuerpo; estudios físico culturales; embodiment; etnografía; gimnasios/fitness
• Online Access: https://www.methaodos.org/revista-methaodos/index.php/methaodos/article/view/81

<p>The study of the body has led to more than five decades of varied and prolific production by social scientists. However, their theoretical and methodological approaches have been as diverse as these investigations. This article, using concrete examples, reflects on the theoretical and methodological implications applied to the study of the body and corporality in the gyms, and aims to show that there is not a rigid set of embodied practices or one type of gym users; on the contrary, they can vary depending on multiple factors such as economic, cultural, or geographical context. It concludes with the author's opinion that Physical Cultural Studies offers an excellent set of tools to investigate the physical and subjective aspects of gym practices.</p>