Running as a way fat women re-story their bodies and construct a runner identity in a North American sociocultural context. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ohlendorf, Jennifer M.; Anders, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Psychology of sport and exercise. Volume 63(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Running -- Women -- Women runners -- Fat -- Physical activity -- Identity construction -- Narrative analysis; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Psychology; Sports; Exercise; Societies, Medical; Sports -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; Exercice -- Aspect psychologique -- Périodiques; 613.71019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102278
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1469-0292

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: This research sought to identify the process by which women who identify as fat or as not having a typical athletic body construct an athletic identity and persist in their running and other athletic endeavors despite body size-related barriers. Methods: From an online recruitment effort, 19 North American women runners in larger bodies completed interviews in which they told the story of how they had become runners. A narrative analysis with a feminist, constructivist approach was conducted to identify story types. Results: Four narrative types were identified: reclaiming the body, reclaiming health, space-making, and future-imagining. Through finding a size- and pace-inclusive running community, running persistently, and completing races, women relinquished the stories they'd believed that their bodies were not athletic since childhood and constructed an identity of runner in a fat body. Conclusions: These women's engagement in running is a personal form of resistance against those who define athletic and healthy as "thin" or "fit." They have found a welcoming athletic community and have moved on to leadership where they are working to make running accessible to other women in bodies like theirs. Those reading these narratives should consider ways in which fat bodies have been excluded from athletics, as well as ways to support the work being done by women runners in fat bodies to redefine health and athleticism. Highlights: Size-related microaggressions in childhood led to a non-athletic body narrative. Finding running community and achieving running goals led to a new body-story. Pace and size inclusivity of running communities made women feel welcome. Once women constructed a runner identity, they felt their body was healthy at its size.