An Autoethnographical Tapestry of Feminist Reflection on My Journey of a Fitness Model Physique
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 8-28-2013 12:00 AM An Autoethnographical Tapestry of Feminist Reflection on My Journey of a Fitness Model Physique Stephanie A. Paplinskie The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Dr. Angela Schneider The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Kinesiology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Stephanie A. Paplinskie 2013 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Other Kinesiology Commons, Sports Studies Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Recommended Citation Paplinskie, Stephanie A., "An Autoethnographical Tapestry of Feminist Reflection on My Journey of a Fitness Model Physique" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1694. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1694 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN AUTOETHNOGRAPHICAL TAPESTRY OF FEMINIST REFLECTION ON MY PURSUIT OF A FITNESS MODEL PHYSIQUE (Thesis format: Monograph) by Stephanie A. Paplinskie Graduate Program in Kinesiology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada © Stephanie Paplinskie, 2013 Abstract Weight training and fitness competitions are increasingly popular activities for many women seeking an aesthetically fit body. This thesis entails a critical reflection of the various factors surrounding my personal decision to partake in body sculpting, examining how these factors parallel the experience of other women in the fitness industry. Using a feminist theoretical framework and autoethnography, a history of feminist theory is incorporated to demonstrate some of the various perspectives surrounding women bodies. Two challenges for women are discussed in this paper: i) the fear of fat, and how it is connected to a woman’s initial decision to attend the gym; and ii) the fear of masculinization, which is often experienced by women once they are in weight training environments. A discussion of women’s fitness and health magazines is included to expand the discussion on body image. These magazines are also analyzed for their positive and negative influences on women’s fitness. Performance- based activities are proposed as an alternative to fitness competitions for their objectivity. Finally, a personal perspective is offered on the meaning of femininity, within the context of North American culture. Keywords body sculpting, gender, authoethnography, body image, weight training, bodybuilding, feminist theory, feminism ii Dedication “For there is no friend like a sister In calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, To fetch one if one goes astray, To lift one if one totters down, To strengthen whilst one stands.” ~ Christina Rossetti, Goblin Market Dedicated to my sister, Theresa. iii Acknowledgments Before I begin, I must take a moment to thank those who played an invaluable role in making this thesis possible. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Angela Schneider, for her unwavering support and guidance over the last two years. Thank you for encouraging me to share my story. Dr. Alison Lee and Dr. Don Morrow, thank you for your time, insight, discussion, suggestions, feedback and patience. You have influenced me more than you will know. I owe my sanity to the both of you. To my friends and colleagues, you were there through it all – the late nights at the office, the pep-talks, the trips to Starbucks, and the final product. I’m blessed to have such awesome people in my life. Finally, I would like to thank my family. Mikey, Candice, Ian, Katie, Theresa, Mom and Dad. Thank you for always supporting me in all my endeavors. Your unending love and encouragement has helped me grow into the woman I am today. iv List of Figures Figure 1: My first fitness model competition; April 9, 2011 .................................................... 1 Figure 2: The multiple topic areas interwoven in My Story ................................................... 10 Figure 3: Barbie with real-life proportions .............................................................................. 28 Figure 4: Figure competitor Monica Brant at the 2010 WBFF World Championships .......... 43 Figure 5: IFBB Bikini Competitor Nathalia Melo .................................................................. 48 Figure 6: FitnessRX June 2010 Issue ....................................................................................... 51 Figure 7: Fitness June 2013 Issue ........................................................................................... 52 Figure 8: Women's Health June 2013 Issue ............................................................................. 53 Figure 9: Shape June 2013 Issue ............................................................................................. 54 Figure 10: Muscle & Fitness Hers January 2010 Issue ........................................................... 55 Figure 11: IFBB Bikini Model Nicole Nagrani ..................................................................... 108 Figure 12: WBFF Fitness Model Lyzabeth Lopez ................................................................ 109 Figure 13: IFBB Figure Competitor Nicole Wilkins ............................................................. 110 Figure 14: IFBB Physique Competitor Dana Lynn Bailey ................................................... 111 Figure 15: IFBB Bodybuilder Maria Bello ........................................................................... 112 Figure 16: 2012 Mr. Olympia Phil Heath .............................................................................. 113 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ...................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... vi Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 1 Tabula Rasa .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 2 1.2 Purpose .................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Method and Methodology ....................................................................................... 9 1.4 Literature Review of Primary Authors & Theorists .............................................. 10 1.5 Chapter Descriptions ............................................................................................. 14 Chapter 2 ........................................................................................................................... 17 2 Method .......................................................................................................................... 17 2.1 Autoethnography: An Introduction ....................................................................... 17 2.2 Types & Approaches ............................................................................................. 18 2.3 Limitations ............................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Benefits .................................................................................................................. 21 2.5 Examples ............................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................... 27 vi 3 A Feminist Perspective: An Overview ......................................................................... 27 3.1 The First Wave ...................................................................................................... 29 3.2 The Second Wave .................................................................................................. 32 3.3 The Third Wave ..................................................................................................... 37 3.4 The Fourth Wave ................................................................................................... 39 3.5 Body In Transition ................................................................................................