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'Body practises - exposure and effect of a sporting culture?' Stories from three Australian swimmers
Citation
McMahon, J and Penney, D and Dinan-Thompson, M, 'Body practises - exposure and effect of a sporting culture?' Stories from three Australian swimmers, Sport Education and Society, 17, (2) pp. 181-206. ISSN 1357-3322 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Taylor & Francis
DOI: doi:10.1080/13573322.2011.607949
Abstract
This paper contributes to sport, sociology and the body literature by exploring the 'exposure and
effect' of culture, in particular bodily practices placed on three adolescent swimmers immersed in
the Australian swimming culture using an ethnographic framework. The research reported is
particularly notable as it addresses two distinct time points in the swimmers' lives. The first section
explores the adolescent experiences of three female swimmers within the cultural context of
Australian swimming by articulating some of the specific body practices and 'memes' (ideas,
symbols and practices) that they were exposed to and/or engaged within relation to the body. The
second section of this paper focuses on the same three swimmers in the 'present day', some 10-30
years after being immersed in the Australian swimming culture as adolescents. It excavates their
body practices and the relationships they now have with their body, and thus pursues the sustained
impact of the body practices and 'memes' they were exposed to as adolescents. Analysis employs
concepts drawn mainly from Foucault, particularly his thesis in regard to 'disciplinary power',
'regulation' 'classification' and 'surveillance'. At a club (amateur) and National level, Australian
swimming is revealed as an institution, a site and culture where particular techniques of power have
become concentrated and have been brought to bear on individuals in systematic ways, with
sometimes damaging effects arising for athletes' long-term health and well-being, particularly if the
individuals concerned continue to engage with cultural practices in regard to the body post-career.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | body; regulation;power; narrative; ethnography; autoethnography |
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Curriculum and pedagogy |
| Research Field: | Curriculum and pedagogy not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Other education and training |
| Objective Field: | Other education and training not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | McMahon, J (Associate Professor Jennifer McMahon) |
| ID Code: | 77628 |
| Year Published: | 2012 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 65 |
| Deposited By: | Education |
| Deposited On: | 2012-05-14 |
| Last Modified: | 2022-08-26 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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