An ethnographic study exploring the role of gender and gender differences in those participating in a powerlifting competition.

Role of Gender and Gender Difference in Powerlifting Competition: An Ethnographic Study Student Name Student Number Course Name Course Code Due Date The present study aimed to explore the role gender plays in powerlifting competitions and how gender can be experienced differently while performing in a public atmosphere. This research used ethnographic approaches like participant observation as a spectator and an auto-ethnographic account method based on how the researcher's knowledge and experience of powerlifting can be used to investigate gender differences while performing at a national level. Accordingly, this research conducted ethnographic fieldwork with the use of thick description to examine how a social problem can reveal certain aspects of social organisation, which can further change cultural practices in public spaces.1 In addition, this study also used the hidden ethnographies approach as a methodology to study competitors using performance enhancers and their public display of using drugs within a public event. This research displayed a shift in the boundaries of the private and public dichotomy that has changed the culture of powerlifting amongst men and women. Furthermore, this research study also highlighted the advocacy amongst women who have challenged the social norm, by focusing on ideologies like for instance, that one doesn't need to be thin to be healthy and that promoting a more muscular definition within women’s bodies is a much more sustainable form of lifestyle, especially for older women. Thus, this research has been written under the following sections; the first section began by discussing the event the researcher has observed; the second section discussed the literature review using varied scholarly articles to investigate gender, gender identity, and ideologies formed within a public performance; the third section provided a descriptive analysis of the fieldwork conducted by the researcher, and the last section discussed the main findings of this research centring on aspects like gender being contested within public spaces, gender being experienced differently, and how gender shifts social attitudes with new cultural meanings. Saturday, 24th, and Sunday, the 25th, 2022, Rucci’s gym in Perth, Western Australia, hosted the GPC nationals powerlifting competition, where men and women competitors from all over Australia were invited to participate in the national event. This event covered two solid days, where women competed on Saturday and men competed on Sunday. The researcher observed both days by observing women and men for two hours each respectively. Powerlifting, in general, has three major disciplines in which a competitor participates, namely squats, bench, and deadlifts, and the competitor is allowed three attempts per discipline. For this ethnographic research, the researcher examined the deadlifts in both men and women over two days. As, in powerlifting, competitors are split into weight divisions, the researcher observed the 140kg+ weight division in men and over 100kg in women. Further, the researcher found that the discipline of the deadlift is considered the most speculator part of the competition where one witnesses a competitor lifting nearly three times their body weight. A literature review was conducted to support observational research and ethnography methods and to help in applying a conceptual framework in understanding the experiences of men and women involved in powerlifting as a competitive sport through the public sphere. The public sphere is a concept where everyone is included and involved. The public space is where individuals can come to a united space to express themselves without discrimination, be treated equally, and have the freedom of thoughts and opinions.2 To understand further the competitor and their relationship within the public space, Goffman3 examined the term ‘performance”. It outlines how the ‘front region’ is significant to where the performance is given and how individuals can influence their observers in a public arena. Goffman4 further explained the importance of the front stage in a public performance and identified key concepts such as setting, appearance, and manner that can be used to explore a social and public environment. For example, these concepts can be used to observe powerlifters performing the deadlift in a public atmosphere. Using one of these concepts ‘manner’ explained by Goffman5, the audience can experience a competitor showing more aggression in performing a deadlift that they would not normally do outside the public space. This can be an act of dramatization that allows the lifter to express themselves fully, alters their normal behaviour to perform, and enables the competitor to express their identity publicity.6 Sanli 7 argued that this can be problematic as women can be represented differently in the public sphere. Mills 8 also raised the idea of ideological conflict within the public arena that can change the cultural meanings within a social structure. Ideological conflicts can be identified in a powerlifting competition by showing more aggression and using muscularity traits in performing a deadlift in order to win. This provides an analytical framework to observe gender identity and how gender plays a role in competitive sports.9 Showing aggression can be seen as an act of dominance and authority causing conflict with other competitors. In addition, women who show aggression in their deadlifts can appear masculine, challenging the power imbalances between men and women. Participant observation and observational research in a public space were the researcher's primary focus in collecting data for this study.10 When observing the competition, the researcher found that there were two important public spaces observed throughout this study. First, the main stage, where competitors addressed the platform to perform their lifts. Second, to the left-hand side, the area of the flight screen that represented each group of competitors who would lift together in every round in each division and who waited there to perform their deadlift. This aspect holds importance to the research as there is a ritual that must be performed on every deadlift that is performed on the platform. This is a socially constructed cultural practice that everyone doing the deadlifts carries out.11 This ritual of 60 seconds allows each competitor to complete their lift which is composed of four total commands; first, the 'Bar is loaded' competitor enters the platform; second, the competitor takes their time to set up their stance, as this is happening the officials have their arms raised; third, once the competitor starts to lift, the referee’s arm goes down, the lifter must lock out knees once the bar is in the right position and proportion to the competitor arms and thighs (there is no bend in the arms and knees must be locked); and fourth, once the knees are locked and the lifter has held the weight in an upright position there is a drop out command and the lifter drop the bar and the weight. The data that the researcher collected for this ritual process and what has been observed in principle was that all women were treated equally and there was no evidence of gender inequality and there was no discrimination towards women. Both genders were treated in fairness with equal opportunities. Men and women who were competing in the deadlift discipline, all had the same timing to do their lifts, the same technique to adhere to and the same commands. However, the data further showed that the observations on how the deadlift was performed were different for the males and the females. Males showed more aggression and power in their lifts, the music with their entry got much louder, and more people entered the arena to watch the males lift 350kg+ for their final lift of the competition. Women displayed an act of solidary, encouragement and support for each other, whereas the males segregated themselves with their coaches and gyms that they belonged to. Also, it was observed that males performed an act of social drama for an audience who shared a common interest in powerlifting.11 Males showed their personal desires of winning and self-determination in lifting the heaviest weight for the competition. The researcher also explored the idea of the ‘self-other interactions' and observed the masculine space and how competitions can form stereotypes of gender and shape and size.12 Through their observation, the researcher observed that both genders were encouraged to compete in whatever size they are by providing different weight divisions which challenged the traditional ideologies and notions of only men being strong, competitive and competing in a powerlifting competition, thereby changing the social organisation.14 It was also noted in the observations that men who entered the weight category of 70kg had the greatest number of competitors. Further, while the competitor is waiting in their flight unethical considerations and moral integrity of a competitor and their coach can question the authenticity of competing in a power-lifting competition. The researcher approached this part of the research with the strictest confidentiality and respected the competitors and their decisions with respect to their privacy without prejudice and misrepresentation of a person’s identity.13 Hidden ethnography is a concept to observe a public setting that may not be socially acceptable.14 Performance drugs (PEDs) are allowed to be used in powerlifting like steroids are used to boost muscle mass, and sniffing ammonia (smelling salts) is more commonly used on the day of the competition, though all PEDs are banned in sports apart from powerlifting.15 Competitors openly use this drug to maximise their lifts, boost adrenaline and reduce fatigue which is shifting the boundaries of the public and private spheres and changing the ‘physical culture' of powerlifting. 18 In recent history PEDs were taken to increase muscle mass, making the body look more masculine, and were used to perform better making the chances to win more desirable. In this research, the researcher observed that most of the male competitors took smelling salts that come in small containers that one can ‘sniff’ before the ritual of deadlifts is performed. The researcher also observed that women did not take any smelling salts or PEDs before their lifts. Further, the researcher recorded an auto-ethnographic review of their personal experience in participating as a spectator in this powerlifting competition combined with their own experience of lifting in a competitive environment as a mature-aged woman. This auto ethnographic research method was used by the researcher to gain more insight, contribute towards a theory of knowledge and provide a social analysis of the sport from a women’s perspective.16 Thus, through the experience of the researcher as a competitive powerlifter, they realised how it feels to be intimidated, and nervous, and watch people shout at you to ‘lift’ in front of a packed-out audience. Some of their findings from doing auto-ethnographic research were how involved they were within the public atmosphere, and how they were shouting being part of the audience to encourage a competitor to lift a weight nearly three times their body weight. They realised how they couldn’t help feeling proud to see women of all ages and weights showing pride in what they were doing and advocating being big and strong. Through their personal experience of being a more oversized frame and a mature woman, the researcher watched and listened to the audience commenting on the competitor’s size and frame. The question that came to their mind was what is the perception of a powerlifter? And is there an ideology of what a woman should like? How women in society struggle with their weight and size, and how the media represents them to be skinny to be healthy and to maintain femininity.17 The researcher realised how powerlifting has offered a way for women to embrace their larger frames, and it doesn’t matter how old you are to take part. The research realised how there was no evidence of women being stereotyped as looking muscular, toned, and looking a particular athletic type as each competitor had their individuality look to them and they were there to promote lifting heavy weights and encouraging other women to do the same. Thus, to conclude this research showed how gender was being contested within public spaces, how it was being experienced differently, and how it shifts social attitudes with new cultural meanings. The research showed how in principle in terms of rules of the game gender was being contested within public spaces with women participating and being treated on equal grounds with men in powerlifting competitions. The research also showed how gender was experienced or performed differently by men and women with men displaying more masculine traits and aggression and women displaying an act of solidarity, support, and encouragement. The research also displayed how gender shifts social attitudes with new cultural meanings seen in terms of advocacy amongst women who have challenged the social norm that one doesn't need to be thin to be healthy and that promoting a more muscular definition within women’s bodies is a much more sustainable form of lifestyle, especially for older women. Consequently, the present study explored the role gender plays in powerlifting competitions and how gender can be experienced differently while performing in a public atmosphere. It used ethnographic approaches like participant observation as a spectator and an auto-ethnographic account method, and the hidden ethnographies approach as a methodology to investigate gender differences while performing at a national level. Thus in totality, this research displayed a shift in the boundaries of the private and public dichotomy that has changed the culture of powerlifting amongst men and women. Bibliography Angrosino, Michael. Doing Ethnographic and Observational Research. Sage, 2007. Aronsky, Aline. “Powerlifting Is One of the Only Sports Where Steroids Are Allowed.” Vice Media Group. March 13, 2020. https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5xkpw/powerliftinghttps://www.vice.com/en/article/g5xkpw/powerlifting-steroid-use-uksteroid-use-uk. Donnelly, Michele K. "Drinking with the Derby Girls: Exploring the Hidden Ethnography in Research of Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby." International Review for the Sociology of Sport 49, no. 3-4 (2014): 346-366. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1012690213515664. Garratt, Dean. "Psychoanalytic-Autoethnography: Troubling Natural Bodybuilding." Qualitative Inquiry 21, no. 4 (2015): 343-353. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1077800414542699. Geertz, Clifford. "Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese cockfight." Daedalus (1972): 1-37. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20024056. Geertz, Clifford. The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. New York: Basic Books, 1973. Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. London: The Penguin, 1969. Mills, Charles W. “The Promise.” In The Sociological Imagination, 3-24. New York: Oxford University Press, 1959. Pavlidis, Adele, and James Connor. "Men in a ‘Women Only’Sport? Contesting gender Relations and Sex Integration in Roller Derby." Sport in Society 19, no. 8-9 (2016): 1349-1362. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17430437.2015.1067781. Sanli, Solen. "Public Sphere and Symbolic Power: ‘Woman’s Voice’as a Case of Cultural Citizenship." Cultural Sociology 5, no. 2 (2011): 281-299. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1749975510379965. Turner, Victor. "Social Dramas and Stories about Them." Critical inquiry 7, no. 1 (1980): 141-168. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/448092. Wellard, Ian. "Gendered Performances in Sport: An Embodied Approach." Palgrave Communications 2, no. 1 (2016): 1-7. https://www.nature.com/articles/palcomms20163. YÜKSEL, Murat. "Being Genderless of Public Sphere and Sport." Turkish Journal of Sport and Exercise 20, no. 3 (2018): 310-317. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/tsed/issue/40371/471956.