It’s not just you come into the gym and do your weight training

A Narrative Exploration of Muscularity’s Role as Identity Capital

Bibliographic Data

ID6145015
AuthorsIeuan Cranswick (0000-0002-1221-356X, Leeds Beckett University, corresponding author), David J Richardson (0000-0002-4092-6970, Bangor University), Martin Littlewood (0000-0003-1881-6035, Liverpool John Moores University), David Tod (0000-0003-1084-6686, Lancaster University)
Year2024
Volume22
Issue2
Pages143-165
Publication date2024-10-22
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal for Sport and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1613-8171 • E-ISSN: 2380-5919
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/16138171.2024.2417149
OpenAlexW4403657919
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited82

The current study explored muscularity and weight training’s role as capital in people’s identities across various contexts. Eleven weight trainers from two gyms were interviewed (3 females, 8 males) about their desires for muscularity and the role it played in their lives. Thematic narrative analysis identified narratives that framed the individuals’ muscular desires, behaviours, and importance. Muscularity formed a versatile resource - identity capital – that was a key part of the individuals’ body projects. These body projects and identity capital facilitated the individuals’ identity performances in a range of contexts (e.g., occupation, gender). Three narratives emerged (individualist, illusionist, and promoter) that highlighted the intertwined tangible (e.g., leanness and strength) and intangible (e.g., control and self-empowerment) attributes associated with muscularity and weight training that facilitated successful identity performances. These narratives achieved goals of self-empowerment (Individualist), self-protection (Illusionist), or self-advertisement (Promoter) which enabled successful identity performances. The current findings advance existing literature by suggesting muscularity is a versatile form of identity capital that can facilitate multiple identities (e.g., occupation, gender) and contexts. The potential benefit to an individuals’ sense of self also highlights the positive effect of muscularity weight training as a tool for self-promotion and personal growth

Aesthetics · Art · Capital (architecture · Geography · Identity (music · Literature · Narrative · Social capital · Social science · Sociology · Training (meteorology · Visual arts · Diversity and Impact of Dance · Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports, Gender, and Society

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