Running, health and the disciplining of women's bodies: The influence of technology and nature. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Little, Jo
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 46(2017:Jul.)
• Page Start: 322
• Page End: 327
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Running -- Health -- The body -- Gender -- Technology -- Nature; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.11.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: This paper explores the relationship between health, the body and exercise through an examination of women's running practices. Drawing on a series of original interviews with women it shows how running reflects anxieties about health and the unruly body and how running practices are firmly linked to ideas about body size and shape and to the 'ghosts' of potential, future illness. The paper then explores the ways in which running practices are shaped by attitudes to technology and by the relationship between nature, environment and the body. Highlights: The paper focuses on women's running and on the different ideas of health that motivate their exercise practices. Women's running is initially influenced by understandings of the fit body and by a sense of responsibility to others. Runners use technology in the early stages of running, to regulate their exercise and monitor health and fitness outcomes. As runners become experienced they rely less on technology to measure their running progress. Nature and technology are seen in opposition in terms of the embodied sense of physical and metal well being acquired from running.