The identity and objectification of personal trainers

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 19, 2009)Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2008.[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] The fitness industry is on the rise, fueling the need for certified personal trainers, one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. Yet, very little sociological literature addresses the experiences of individuals employed in the fitness industry. There are, however, studies that examine others engaged in so-called "body work" (e.g. professional dancers, aerobics instructors, body builders). Some of these studies have focused on the objectification thesis arguing that those engaged in body work are likely to experience the objectification of their body by others (e.g. clients, employers) and by selves. For some body-workers, this objectification leads to body image distortions, disordered eating, and drug use. But for other objectified body workers, the opposite appears to hold. In this study, I seek to explain this contradiction by first applying Brekhus' (2003) theory of identity types to personal trainers. My findings indicate that Brekhus' (2003) theory can both be applied to personal trainers and can be used to help explain how the individuals are affected.Includes bibliographical references

The Identity and Objectification of Personal Trainers [abstract]

Abstract of a presentation given at the 2008 Body Project conference at the University of Missouri-Columbia.This presentation was made during the session "In the Zone: The Dynamics of Performance."The purpose of this study is to examine how personal trainers perceive their body. My research questions are the following: How does the structure or the focus of the organization affect the trainer's perception of their bodies; how does gender, age, years of employment, clientele, focus of the organization etc. affect these trainers; do these trainers internalize external cues of maintaining a certain body type, and how does that affect them