Sobrevivendo ao estigma da hipertrofia: notas etnográficas sobre o fisiculturismo feminino no Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

This research aims to understand the stigma of hypertrophy of bodybuilder women inside and outside the gym. To achieve muscle enhancement, these women build a strong interest in a strong, muscular body with low fat percentage. They are recognized in bodybuilding championships with symbolic power and at the same time, stigmatized inside and outside the gym, considered exaggerated, disproportionate. The theoretical-conceptual framework selected for the research is Erving Goffman theory favoring the concept of stigma. And L. Wacquant theory about the socio-anthropological construction of the object of study from the body itself. To understand the meanings of this problem, a qualitative research with interviews was conducted with 15 women bodybuilders in weight gym in the Flamengo neighborhood in the south of Rio de Janeiro. Data analysis performed according to the content analysis proposal of Laurence Bardin. It was concluded that women bodybuilders tend to be stigmatized for breaking the rules of femininity. The results indicate that the relationships and affective life of these women are restricted to a tribe of bodybuilding and the socio-anthropological construction of the body goes through the process of bioasceses and bioindentity. The project was submitted to the Ethics Committee in 2018