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 sub
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 sub
| 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
Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited 2024.
Keywords
- Applied psychoanalysis
- Women's gymnastics
- Perfectionism
- Gender ideals
- Abuse