Body-reflexive pleasures: exploring bodily experiences within the context of sport and physical activity

Abstract

The contribution of sport and physical activity in achieving wellbeing has received much attention in relation to children and adults, although consideration of the physical aspects of bodily pleasure have tended to be ignored in favour of developing health related measures. In physical education, the physical body has been further ‘disembodied’ through a focus upon health-based ‘outcomes’ (such as tackling obesity) and what could be considered a ‘fear of fun’. However, pleasure does not necessarily have to be selfish and hedonistic and, ultimately, it could be claimed that undue focus upon psychological ‘wellbeing’ and outcome driven curriculum policy restricts the potential for individual accomplishment and learning about the possibilities of the physical body. This paper incorporates the concept of body-reflexive practices, as initially described by Connell, in order to explore the notion of body reflexive pleasures which incorporate the individual as well as the social context. Drawing upon previous and current research exploring bodily pleasure, fun and enjoyment as a factor in sporting participation, it is suggested that physical experiences in sport and physical activity need to be understood at both the individual and the social level—at a specific time, as well as a later positive reflection.