Posted on September 02, 2016 by Jenny Cromack
This week I wanted to share some of my own interpretations coming from my own PhD studies. I am exploring Muscularity and Self-Identity and the role muscularity plays in who we are and our identities. One of my current ongoing studies is exploring the gym culture and the role of muscularity in the lives of those who engage in regular weight training.
I am starting to find that those who have a desire to be more muscular, train with weights, and develop their strength do so for reasons beyond superficial vanity. Muscularity may actually form a valuable resource with which we can construct, maintain, and project various identities. Throughout our lives we from various identities such as those based around gender (masculine or feminine) or occupational identities. I have started to approach my study with the viewpoint of muscle and strength being a form of “identity capital” (Cote, 2016) or a resource we can draw upon to reinforce who we are, but also use it at times of crisis or when our identity and values are challenged.
Recently I have been understanding that having a “bank” of muscularity and strength allows us to project other values that prove useful in many walks of life. I have found some interesting ideas from my study regarding gender identities:
For a man to be muscular and strong he can conform to traditional masculine values and his physique will represent dominance, robustness, and being a protector. This allows the men to gain acceptance by society as a man, project the masculine values, and reap benefits associated with being masculine.
For women it is slightly different and weight training and developing muscularity and strength appears to be more to move away from traditional feminine norms. By possessing more muscularity than traditional women they can project independence, confidence, and control.
Occupationally muscle and strength had its obvious benefits in jobs that required physical labour or selling services associated with health and fitness such as PTs or health professionals. However, even those in office based, or sedentary jobs, drew upon a muscular physique to project beneficial values and build the identity of someone who is hardworking, committed, and competent.
Muscularity is proving to be a crucial part of who people are and useful when creating a strong sense of self and successfully navigating different social environments. It appears to work with psychological resources which prove beneficial when facing challenges in life. For example, possessing a more muscular physique and being stronger helped people build their self-esteem, confidence, and used it as a way of realising their ability to cope and be competent in testing situations such as bereavement or job losses. These findings will help identify the drive for muscularity as a key part of peoples identity, and a tool that is useful for ensuring a healthy identity development, and coping abilities when faced with life challenges.