| Titel: | Worth the effort: Self-empowerment as the missing link in women's health and fitness |
|---|---|
| Autor: | Jordan, PA |
| Mediengruppe: | --- |
| Herausgeber: | --- |
| Zeitschrift: | --- |
| Jahr: | 1996 |
| Band: | --- |
| Heft: | --- |
| Seiten: | 163 |
| Sprache: | englisch |
| Abstract: | This feminist inquiry reveals the fact that many women exposed to a patriarchal, celebrity-obsessed, appearance-oriented culture find it difficult to adopt long-term health and fitness behaviors that bring them satisfaction and heightened self-esteem. On the contrary, the prevailing fitness message often creates resignation, low self-esteem and despair. Interviews of 400 women (and 13 men) revealed that a critical step toward adopting and maintaining a self-styled, healthy and fit lifestyle was accomplished when the women transferred authority of their bodies from an external agency--such as parental authority, husbands, boyfriends, clergy, fitness industry, physicians, media, celebrity hype--back to themselves. Transferring authority back within one's self and rejecting society's prevailing judgments on women's bodies were the self-empowered steps necessary to fuel women's healthy pursuits for the long haul. Previous research declared self-esteem to be a byproduct of fitness, but this study found self-esteem and self-empowerment as necessary antecedents to even adopting exercise routines. Tools for self-empowerment included support groups, self-help books, workshops, supportive friends and a daily practice of various methods of relaxation, such as guided imagery, yoga, prayer or playful, authentic movement. |