Social Structuring of Bodily Capital and Bodily Labour among Professional Fighters - Literature review Example

Critical Analysis of Pugs at Work: Bodily Capital and Bodily Labour among Professional Boxers Name Institution Course Date A Critical Analysis of a Research Article Wacquant L (1995) Pugs at work: bodily capital and bodily labour among professional boxers. Body & Society 1(1), 65-93.) Introduction In the recent years, numerous sporting activities have emerged as money minting activities and multi-billion dollar industry (McLeish, 2010). Most of these sports require the athlete to use whole or part of his or her body as the capital, equipment and raw material for production. This consequently translates to the fact that these athletes have to keep in shape their tool of trade which is their body (Yiannakis and Melnick, 2001, p. 415). In the quest of shaping up they undergo strenuous exercise with the hope of breakthrough one day. One the groups of athlete who undergo this kind of process are the boxers better known as the pugilists (Wacquant, 1995, p. 66). Wacquant (1995, p. 65) examines the social structuring of bodily capital and bodily labour among professional fighters in Chicago. This paper examines and critiques an ethnographic research article titled pugs at work: bodily capital and bodily labour among professional boxers which addresses the research gap on how specific social worlds invest shape and deploy human bodies. To achieve this mission, the paper engages critical analysis approach by looking at research problem, objectives, methodology used and recommendations provided by the study. The Problem that is addressed in this Research Wacquant (1995, p. 65) notes that there is limited studies in the field of sociology in relation attempt at understanding body and its commoditisation in society. The absence of in-depth research work in this subject acts as the impetus and justification for the researcher to conduct this research. Normally, in any given research work, one of the justification that a researcher has is to fill a certain gap in that field (Academic Writer, 2000). To address the above research gap of people using their body as capital, the researcher adopted ethnographic approach in his research design. The research examines and exposes numerous trends in the boxing field as they use their body as capital and labour. Wacquant (1995) notes how the boxers use their body as capital, the works outs they undergo, their fears and illusions. Research Perspective/ Approach Taken To Address the Problem The research design that the researcher used is ethnography. In this approach, the researcher became a participant observer for four years with the population under study. Most of the data captured are qualitative. Merten (1998, p. 14) notes that ethnography is the observation of a certain phenomenon at its natural setting over a period of time. The underlying strength of this approach is in its ability to create close working relations and good rapport between the researcher and the respondent. This subsequently translates to the fact that the data captured and information presented are wholly from the respondent (Merten, 1998, p. 13; Hammersley and Atkinson, 1995, p. 3). Spatially, the research is conducted in the metropolis of Chicago in America while the social setting is within the black ghetto of the south side of Chicago. This research was conducted over a period of four years (Wacquant, 1995, p. 65). To address the research gap of social structuring of bodily capital and bodily labour among the professional fighters who are socialised to adore physical force and prowess, he relied on participant observation as the data collection method. According to Kumar (2008, p. 8), this approach can be termed qualitative or motivational as it seeks to investigate the reason for human behaviour. In this approach, he utilised his field notes, personal experience as a result of apprentice boxer who learned on the site and in-depth interview with fifty professional boxers, over 36 coaches, managers and integral support staffs like ‘cutmen,’ referees and matchmakers. Moreover, he used secondary sources such as specialised publications, reports from boxing press and autobiographies of champions and renowned trainers (Wacquant, 1995, p. 65 and 66). To advance his findings on body and its commoditisation in society, Wacquant (1995) presents the research in four sub chapters. In the first observation, he looks at how boxers use their body as a capital. The research presents how pugilists engage in rigorous work outs to shape the body as a capital. The second sub section looks at the work outs so as to remodel the body as weapon and offensive tool. The third sub section exposes the sacrifice the boxers undergo through such as dieting and reduced family contact before major bouts. The fourth describes from first hand interview and the illusions of worst happening to them. Lastly, the study does not come up with recommendations. Findings and Conclusions That the Author Draw From the Research Wacquant(1995) manages to expose certain situations that pugilists undergo while trying to shape up as a professional boxer. Based on how he conceptualizes the profession as use of body as capital, he comes up with three major findings. The first finding is on the body works and food that the pugilists undertake so as to be on top form. One aspect that he notes is how they remodel their body to act as a tool for offense and defence (Wacquant, 1995, p. 70). For instance, he notes how these people reinforce and expand their body parts that need most protection from punching. These parts include abdomen and shoulders (p. 71). This allows them to master interior of their body and read their opponents (p. 73). For instance in p. 72, he quotes the perception of a boxer about their training pain and how they develop resilience. The next finding is on the sacrifice that these people undergo through. The first that the researcher notes is not food. In this instance, the food intake is highly regulated so that the boxer can achieve the required weight for certain boxing category. This is best highlighted by a trainer who said a boxer have discipline in mind and body (p. 75). Therefore, this means that their daily routines are highly regulated. The most noticeable sacrifice is building bodily endurance (p. 80 and 82). The next is controlled diet system that entails going hungry at a time so that one can fit in a given weight cluster. The intention of this is either for one to gain or lose weight (p. 77). Other are reduced time spent with family members before a major bout and refraining from certain social activities and personal pleasure (p. 78). In fact, he quotes certain pugilist who says a fighter’s life isn’t for a woman (p. 78 and 79). The last bit of his findings is on risks and illusions that these people undergo while preparing for bout and after the bout. One common risk is injury to external and internal tissues. This is based in the fact that boxers are trained to target soft sports and those parts of the opponent that have already been injured (Wacquant, 1995, p. 84). However, the researcher juxtaposes this finding with how they cope. Three boxers quoted by him say that what one needs is to be positive (p. 85). Moreover, the author corroborates this information with earlier literature he worked on stating that most of the pugilist originate from deprived ghettos where insecurity is high and more risky that boxing (p. 86). The illusions that cross their mind before bouts include being permanently incapacitated or even never returning home alive (p. 84, 87 and 88). Evidence that the Researcher Present in Support of His Conclusions Fetterman (2010, p. 2) observes that ethnography is meant to describe a social scene and cultural from the emic. As the researcher note in his research design and methodology, as an ethnographer, the researcher utilizes the power of interview and participant observation to pen down interesting observation. Apart from the above, he corroborates what he had observed with existing literature from secondary sources. For instance, to show the kind of physical and emotional drain that boxers under go before major bout; he quotes what he had noted in the field. In fact, not only from pugilists, but also from different numerous sources like coaches (Wacquant, 1995, 79, 80, 81 and 82). I find the evidence that he presents as ethnographer well balanced because in certain circumstances he is able to give two divergent views from existing literature and from key informant interviews. One specific case is on the fears of the boxers about permanent injury and deaths where the author is able to identify that in subjective view boxing is a relatively a safe sport (Wacquant, 1995, p. 86). Assumptions That Can Be Identified Within the Approach, Conclusions or Evidence Presented Hine (2000, p. 63); Hammersley and Atkinson (1995, p. 11) posits that one assumption on ethnography is based on the need for immersing oneself into the population under research so as to understand it better. This is what the researcher first deed by doing his research for four years. Moreover he also engages in participatory learning and action. This is what Chambers (1985, p. 55) views as the ultimate goal of any research. The next assumption is on the evidence presented. In the evidence presented, the researcher paints a grim picture about boxing profession. He talks minimally about the positive part of the game. For instance, it is common knowledge that this game has moved majority of black people in ghettos from grass to grace. Thus, the assumption he build out use of body as tool of trade is negative one. Conclusion This ethnographic research has managed to stay true to the requirements of ethnography. He engaged with the population for four years and making use of key informants and participatory research. Moreover, the researcher has tried to address the research gap that he outlined in his justification. The gap is clearly articulated in the subsequent section of literature review of body as capital, the work outs, risks and illusions. References Academic Writer, 2000. Research gaps. Retrieved 29 April 2012, from: http://vlc.polyu.edu.hk/academicwriter/Evidence/Secondary%20Sources/researchgaps.ht m Chambers, R. 1985. Rural development: putting the last first. London: Longman. Fatterman, D. M. 2010. Ethnography step-by-step. London: Sage Publications. Hammersley, M. and Atkinson, P. 1995. ‘Chapter 1: What is Ethnography?’ in Ethnography: principles in practice. London: Routledge. Hine, C. 2000. Virtual ethnography. London: Sage Publications. Kumar, C. R. 2008. Research methodology. New Delhi: S.B. Nangia McLeish, E. 2010. Sports industry. New York: Rosen Publishers Mertens, D. M. 1998. Research Methods in Education and Psychology: Integrating Diversity with Quantitative & Qualitative Approaches. London: Sage Publications. Wacquant, L. 1995. Pugs at work: bodily capital and bodily labour among professional boxers. Body & Society 1(1), 65-93. Yiannakis, A and Melnick, M. J. Eds. 2001. Contemporary issues in sociology of sports. Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Inc. Read More