COMP 10
Constructing Gender and Body in the Gym Winter 2019

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Class Details

While it may not be written on the campus map, it’s common Williams knowledge that the gym on upper Lasell is called “the EstroGym.” Have you ever wondered why cardio spaces, like the EstroGym, seem to be occupied predominantly by women while weight rooms (think Lower Level Lasell) are filled with men? We will explore the answers to this and many more questions in this hybrid physical and academic course. Half of this course will be a critical exploration of phenomena that are often taken for granted within the fitness industry. We will discuss the ways in which cultural understandings of gender and bodies are created and reinforced in physical activity spaces. Topics will include the cultural reinforcement of the gender binary, the policing of nonconforming identities in physical spaces, hegemonic masculinity in the gym, and the social construction of ideal femininity and masculinity. Much of our reading will be grounded in feminist and sociological theory (L. Heywood, Bodymakers: A Cultural Anatomy of Women’s Body Building; Markula & Pringle, Foucault, sport, and exercise: Power, knowledge, and transforming the self) but will also include text and visual sources from CrossFit gyms, international weightlifting competitions, bodybuilding shows, and more. The other half of this course will be taught in the weight room, where students will learn proper strength training form and technique. It is a suitable introduction for novice lifters as well as an opportunity for experienced lifters to improve and refine their technique. Students will explore the differences between powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and bodybuilding and will have the opportunity to practice these different forms. This includes, but is not limited to, the following exercises: squat, deadlift, overhead press, bench press, clean, jerk, push-up, and pull-up. Outside of class meeting times, students will be expected to complete readings, brief writing assignments (1-2 pages max), gym observations, short film viewings, and gym selfies (seriously). Depending on class size and logistics, we may take 1-2 field trips to other local gyms for observation purposes. Details TBA. **IMPORTANT NOTE: This course is open to students with any type of lifting experience (from zero physical activity background to Olympic athlete). This also includes students with any form of disability, so long as they are cleared by a licensed medical provider.
The Class: Limit: 14
Grading: pass/fail only
Requirements/Evaluation: 2- to 3-page paper and final project
Prerequisites: none--open to those with any type of lifting experience (no experience to Olympic athlete), including students with any form of disability as long as they are cleared by a licensed medical provider
Enrollment Preferences: students will write a paragraph explaining why they want to take the course
Materials/Lab Fee: none
Attributes: EXPE Experiential Education Courses

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