Semester of Graduation
Fall 2024
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Geography and Anthropology
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Gymnastics scholarship has traditionally focused on the physicality of the sport and what the body can and cannot do. This research expands upon gymnastics scholarship by exploring the individual experiences and histories of college gymnasts in the United States through a series of interviews. The goals of this research are to better understand the gymnastics experience and to explore health and wellbeing in gymnastics as it pertains to the formation of a gymnast’s identity. A combined approach using medical anthropology and anthropology of sport serves as a guiding framework for analyzing interview data. Definitions of health and wellbeing change between club and college gymnastics. College gymnastics offers both an extension of participation in the sport as well as a transitional period for the girls to end their gymnastics careers. Analysis of the interview data suggests that the experience of club gymnastics is important for understanding how the structure of college gymnastics must change to better support its gymnasts. This thesis concludes that a combined theoretical approach to gymnastics using medical anthropology and anthropology of sport offers potential research avenues for the discipline of anthropology and sports research.
Date
10-29-2024
Recommended Citation
Yakes, Skyler M., "The Identity of a Gymnast: How Health, Wellbeing, and Injury Become Embodied in the Identity of Collegiate Gymnasts" (2024). LSU Master's Theses. 6070.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/6070
Committee Chair
Listi, Ginesse
Included in
Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, Other Anthropology Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons