Speaker
Description
The socio-economic and socio-cultural situation of a particular athlete affects their concept of empowerment and fulfillment, especially in the sporting world. Bodybuilding, which is a non mainstream sport in developing countries like the Philippines, shows this dynamic, especially in training, coaching, and engagement in fitness and physique sports by women. Even though there are a number of diverse studies on female bodybuilders, mainly in developed countries, there are no extensive case studies with a focus on other parts of the world, characterized by more traditional gender roles. Through this study, we would like to investigate how female bodybuilders in developing countries shape their identity, ideals, and goals for their ideal body and health, among gender relations that are different from ‘Western’ contexts. It will be discussed as well if their situations really empower them, given that most of the gatekeepers in the sport are males. This includes how acceptable their bodies are within their subculture. Using case studies of female professional bodybuilders in the Philippines, the author will provide diverse narratives of female bodybuilders and look at these through the lens of cultural relativism and gender theory. Through this, it can provide a better perspective on how athletes process their situations which can be empowering or conforming rooted in different hegemonic factors.
