The rationalization of leisure time - the scarcity of emotional excitement in a health promoting exercise intervention for women

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

The aim of this article is to understand how the established biomedical perspective on the body enables and constrains participation in physical activity. Based on a sociological standpoint, an exercise intervention with middle-aged women is analysed through empirical material from observation (N=57), focus groups (N=51) and individual follow-up interviews (N=21). The article finds that spinning[i] is a highly routinized and structured activity that entails a prevailing health promoting control of the emotions to complete and a scarcity of emotional excitement. The article concludes that the biomedical perspective involves a rationalization of leisure time that excludes the emotional excitement usually associated with sports. The emotional body should not be neglected when the (in)active body is problematized in public health. Additionally, participation in long-term exercise would be more likely if couched in an understanding of the activity as an aim in itself.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAnnals of Leisure Research
Vol/bind22
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)532-549
Antal sider18
ISSN1174-5398
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2019

Bibliografisk note

CURIS 2019 NEXS 250

ID: 201227705