Bodybuilding as a subcultural lifestyle of peripheral youth

Abstract

In this article, I draw on data from a qualitative study of a group of bodybuilding youth in Poland to examine how these young men form a distinctive subculture in an environment of conflicting influences of a post-communist, lower class environment and those of capitalism, and social advancement. In the study, conducted in 2014 in a small town in north-east of Poland still dealing with aftermath of the collapse of communism, I undertook 26 in-depth interviews with young bodybuilders and, in this article, focus on five cases that highlight the group’s norms, activities, and overall functioning. In this article, I argue that bodybuilding was the foundation of a subcultural style, a means by which individuals could achieve peer respect and a method for them to channel emotions. I found that the activities associated with bodybuilding provided instant gratification. Such activities enabled individuals to see the immediate effect of working out. However, while these activities provided individuals with a way of developing a desirable sculpted body, they also resulted in distortions of self-image and their daily life, which, in turn, cause a deferral in engaging in typical mandated adult roles and, instead, focusing on the individual’s role and position in their group of peers. However, I found that the dynamics and norms of the bodybuilding group did not condone or facilitate, risky behaviours associated with the use of illegal pharmaceuticals that carry significant health risks.