Height and Body image- a study of young women’s handball

Abstract

English abstract: Purpose: the purpose of this study is to look into how the participants of the study feel about their body image in relation to their height, and if handball can prove tall girls with an enclave or social network. Going through literature on body-image, sport, health and public health it became apparent that many studies have been done based on weight and BMI. Height on the other hand, is a factor which is hardly examined at all in the literature on body-image, especially regarding adolescent girls. Method: The methodology of this study is based upon grounded theory, and is used through the entire research process. 12 girls participating in a national “tall girl” project conducted by the Norwegian Handball Association (NHF) were interviewed about their body image, seen in relation to their height and the fact they are all handball players. Results: The results from the empirical data show a clear distinction between talking about body image and talking about height. The participants were talking more about “general issues” regarding their body image such as: what they liked or disliked about their bodies, media impact and if they would change something on their body or not. When they were talking about their height, they talked more specific about benefits and disadvantages being tall in everyday life and on the handball court. The girls distinguish between being tall in everyday life and being tall at the handball court. Playing handball was important to them in order to feel confident and proud of their height, however, this did not translate into everyday life. The findings in this study shows there are several factors having an impact on the participants and how they view themselves. Being participants in NHF’s “tall girl’s project” has helped them to take advantage of their height in the handball court and for some it has even raised their level of confidence as tall girls in everyday life. However, even though handball does provide a suitable enclave for the tall girls, handball is only temporarily able to elleviate the pressure on girls to conform to gender stereotypes of the female body as tiny and petite