“Skating gives me a freedom to be myself”:
Exploring Embodiment and Body Inclusivity in Adult Figure Skating
Keywords:
weight stigma, body inclusivity, body compassionAbstract
Figure skaters often experience pressure to attain and maintain a thin and lean physique, yet adults who participate may have opportunity to experience embodiment and body inclusivity through skating. Thus, grounded in Piran’s (2016) Developmental Theory of Embodiment, we explored adult skaters’ experiences of embodiment and perceptions of body size inclusivity. Participants, n = 46, individuals aged 25 or older who have regularly engaged in figure skating within the last 5 years completed a series of surveys to assess the experiences of embodiment, self-esteem, body compassion, experiences of flow, and perceptions of body inclusivity. We also examined, via responses to open-ended questions, skaters’ experiences of embodiment through skating, factors that influence their body image, and perceptions of body inclusivity within adult figure skating. Embodying experiences were positively correlated (ps < .05) with all variables except flow. Thematic analysis of responses to open-ended items revealed embodying experiences consistent with Piran’s conceptualization, mixed feelings about body inclusivity within adult skating and numerous constraining factors related to body image. Study results provide researchers and practitioners with preliminary information regarding adult athletes’ experiences of embodiment and body inclusivity; yet additional work is warranted.
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