Athletes and Body Image: Interviews with Gay Sportsmen

Abstract

Research has shown gay men often express body image dissatisfaction, desiring both a thin, yet muscular body. However, the prior research record on gay men's bodies has considered gay men to be a homogenous group with no interacting social identities beyond homosexuality. Stemming from a social identity theory standpoint, the present study engaged in phenomenological interviews with three openly gay tennis players to examine body perceptions in that population. Themes expressed included descriptions of the natural male body, the body beautiful in the gay community, and the potential for gay men in sport. Themes are connected to social identity and hegemony theory, and implications for future research are discussed.

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