University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School July 2019 The Tampa Gym Study: An Ethnographic Exploration of Gyms, Female Gym-Goers and The Quest for Fitness in Tampa, FL Danielle Reneé Rosen University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Public Health Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Rosen, Danielle Reneé, "The Tampa Gym Study: An Ethnographic Exploration of Gyms, Female Gym-Goers and The Quest for Fitness in Tampa, FL" (2019). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/8410 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Tampa Gym Study: An Ethnographic Exploration of Gyms, Female Gym-Goers and The Quest for Fitness in Tampa, FL by Danielle Reneé Rosen A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with a concentration in Biocultural Medical Anthropology Department of Applied Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Roberta Baer, Ph.D Carol Bryant, Ph.D. Daniel Lende, Ph.D. John Napora, Ph.D. Claudia Parvanta, Ph.D. Date of Approval: July 3rd , 2019 Keywords: exercising, workout, women, public health, obesity, physical activity Copyright @ 2019, Danielle Reneé Rosen DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my grandma, Beatrice, also endearingly nicknamed “Ma,” and to my mother, Diane. They have both been the biggest support for me through my life, no matter what direction I decided to take. My grandmother had a love for anthropology and was so proud of me for pursing a degree in this field. My mother helped me in every way imaginable to be able to apply, enroll, and complete the academic degrees that I have earned. They both never doubted me and always showed tremendous support and love in all ways imaginable. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to first thank Dr. Robert Fullilove, my mentor, for his extensive encouragement and wide-ranging support on all academic matters. He has been an inspiration as an award- winning teacher, top researcher, and community leader. He has inspired my interest in chronic diseases, which led me to do this type of research and to look for innovative solutions on how to get people more physically active. Overall his commitment to student’s success is unmatched and forever appreciated. His friendship and guidance have also been unparalleled. I want to extend my gratitude to Dr. Baer who has been there for me as my main advisor at USF and who has supported my research study through thick and thin. She pushed me to be an even harder worker and has helped me conduct a research study that I can say I am proud of having completed. I want to thank her for introducing me to Dr. Weller, as well, who also gave me invaluable guidance into the research methods that I used for the Tampa Gym Study. I am forever grateful to them both. I also want to thank the members of my dissertation committee at USF: Dr. Bryant for her assistance in helping me to think about how to put together the details of my study and for agreeing to stay on my committee even after her retirement. I want to thank Dr. Parvanta who came on board at a later date and who helped me think about ways to improve the structure and writing of my dissertation. I am particularly grateful to her now for her guidance in writing academic articles that will be derived from my research. Thank you, Dr. Lende, for being such a great educator and for teaching me about the multitude of useful and relevant methodologies in the social sciences and for his assistance in showing me how to do really good ethnographic research. Dr. Lende has been very kind and a big support of my research while pushing me to be a better researcher and academic thinker. Thank you Dr. Napora for agreeing to be on my committee and for your deep interest in my research. I am especially grateful for your kindness and help with expanding my knowledge of the sports anthropology literature. Finally, I want to recognize my entire family for their love, support and patience while I pursued my PhD and MPH. Thank you for your unwavering support and for believing in me fully during this long process. TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi Chapter One: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Anthropological Research: Obesity Research, the Quest for the Body Beautiful and Ethnographic Examination of Gyms and Gym Goers ........................................................ 1 Research Settings: Sunshine State Gym (SSG) and the Active Style Gym (ASG) ............ 5 Research Objectives ............................................................................................................ 5 Synopsis of Findings ........................................................................................................... 6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter Two: Literature Review .................................................................................................... 9 The Body and Anthropology .............................................................................................. 9 Public Health and the Obesity Epidemic .......................................................................... 15 African American Women and Exercise .......................................................................... 20 Social and Cultural Drivers of Obesity and the Quest for Fitness .................................... 23 Ethnography of Gyms ....................................................................................................... 29 Dissertations on Gyms and Fitness Culture ...................................................................... 35 Social Media and Exercise ................................................................................................ 37 Methods for Assessing Gyms and Fitness Culture ........................................................... 39 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 41 Chapter Three: Research Methods ................................................................................................ 45 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 47 Sampling and Study Sites ................................................................................................. 48 Part I: Qualitative Study.................................................................................................... 50 Participant Observation ......................................................................................... 50 Sampling ............................................................................................................... 51 Recruitment Strategies .......................................................................................... 52 Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 55 Data Analysis of Semi-Structured Interviews ....................................................... 55 Part II: Quantitative Study ................................................................................................ 56 Sampling ............................................................................................................... 56 Data Collection: Instrument .................................................................................. 56 Data Analysis of Questionnaire ............................................................................ 58 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 60 Chapter Four: Results ................................................................................................................... 61 Results Part I ..................................................................................................................... 62 i Description of Study Sites: Active Style Gym (ASG) .......................................... 62 Description of Study Sites: Sunshine State Gym (SSG) ....................................... 63 Comparison of Gyms ............................................................................................ 64 Personal Trainers: Roles at The Gym ................................................................... 64 Participant Observation ......................................................................................... 66 Positionality .............................................................................................. 66 Results ......................................................................................................