Embodied masculinities and bodywork within two British prison gyms

Area of Science:

• Sociology of sport
• Criminology
• Gender studies

Background:

• Prison masculinities are evolving, impacting embodied experiences.
• The role of prison gyms in shaping these masculinities has been under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the significance of prison gyms as sites of bodywork.
• To examine how prisoners aspire to achieve certain bodies within the prison context.
• To understand how bodywork and performances of masculinity in prison constitute agency and resistance.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing interview data.
• Data collected from prisoners in two high-security men's prisons in Britain.

Main Results:

• Prison gyms are key locations for bodywork and the performance of embodied masculinities.
• Prisoners' aspirations for specific bodies are shaped by the prison environment.
• 'Looking good' in prison is a complex expression of agency, potentially involving resistance or compliance.

Conclusions:

• Prison gyms are vital spaces where diverse masculinities and bodies interact.
• Bodywork in prison gyms offers avenues for agency and resistance against the carceral regime.
• The study reveals tensions between individual agency and institutional control within prison environments.