Abstract
This article brings forward a psychoanalytic reading of the recent abuse scandals in women’s gymnastics. By taking into consideration wider psychoanalytic literature on sport as well as gymnastics’ historical development, this structural analysis of systemic abuse focusses on two overarching questions: firstly, what is the libidinal economy of perfectionism underlying the sport, and secondly, what is the role of sexual difference and gender ideals within this economy? The paper argues that women’s gymnastics, as a sport which aims at performing perfected femininity, is submitted to deeply patriarchal structures of gendered oppression and subordination.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 240-255 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Psychoanalysis Culture and Society |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 26 Jan 2024 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2024 |
Bibliographical note
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/s41282-023-00418-0Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.
This document is the author’s post-print version, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer-review process. Some differences between the published version and this version may remain and you are advised to consult the published version if you wish to cite from it.
Keywords
- Applied psychoanalysis
- Women's gymnastics
- Perfectionism
- Gender ideals
- Abuse