Exploring Trans People's Narratives of Transition: Negotiation of Gendered Bodies in Physical Activity and Sport.

This paper explores how trans people who make transitions negotiate their gendered bodies in different moments of this process, and how their narrative storylines are emplotted in physical activity and (non)organized sports (PAS) participation. A qualitative semi-structured interview-based study was developed to analyze the stories of eight trans people (three trans women, two trans men, and three nonbinary persons) who participated in PAS before and during their gender disclosure. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify the patterns in the transition process and the structural analysis of the stories from the interviews. Three transition moments (the closet, opening up, and reassuring) were identified from the thematic analysis. Most participants showed difficulties in achieving their PAS participation during the two earlier moments. The predominance of failure storylines was found particularly in men, while success was more likely to appear in women because their bodies and choices fitted better with their PAS gender ideals. The nonbinary trans persons present alternative storylines in which corporeality has less influence on their PAS experiences. The knowledge provided on the moments and the stories of transition help to explain trans people's (non)involvement in PAS and to guide policymaking and professional action in PAS fields.

Aging bodies and desistance from crime: Insights from the life stories of offenders.

The processes involved in the transition from crime to desistance, in relation to how those involved in criminal activity give meaning to their experiences of aging over time, has received little empirical scrutiny in the criminological literature. In this article, we unpack and flesh out the multiple meanings of age by drawing on a life story study of desistance from crime. Our analysis foregrounds the following key themes and the interactive parts they play in the process of desistence: general perceptions of aging (critical ages and the ambiguity of age); the significance of the aging body (crime as a young person's game, tiredness, and slowing down); age and risk assessment; and feelings of missing out and lost time with age. We conclude by suggesting that researchers into the phenomenon of desistance with an interest in maturation theory might benefit from integrating work undertaken in the sociology of embodiment and critical gerontology. A brief example of how this integration might operate is provided.

Unconscious agendas in the etiology of refractory obesity and the role of hypnosis in their identification and resolution: a new paradigm for weight-management programs or a paradigm revisited?

Hypnosis has long been recognized as an effective tool for producing behavioral change in the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. Despite many studies from the latter half of the last century suggesting that hypnosis might also be of value in managing obesity situations, the efficacy of hypnotherapy for weight reduction has received surprisingly little formal research attention since 2000. This review presents a brief history of early clinical studies using hypnosis for weight reduction and describes a hypnotherapeutic approach within which a combination of instructional/pedagogic and exploratory therapeutic sessions can work together synergistically to maximize the potential for sustained weight loss. Hypnotic modulation of appetite- and satiation-associated peptides and hormone levels may yield additional physiological benefits in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Social comparison processes, narrative mapping and their shaping of the cancer experience: a case study of an elite athlete.

Drawing on data generated by life history interviews and fieldwork observations we illuminate the ways in which a young elite athlete named David (a pseudonym) gave meaning to his experiences of cancer that eventually led to his death. Central to this process were the ways in which David utilized both social comparisons and a narrative map provided by the published autobiography of Lance Armstrong (2000). Our analysis reveals the selective manner in which social comparison processes operated around the following key dimensions: mental attitude to treatment; the sporting body; the ageing body; and physical appearance. The manner in which different comparison targets were chosen, the ways in which these were framed by Armstrong's autobiography, and the work that the restitution narrative as an actor did in this process are also examined. Some reflections are offered regarding the experiential consequences of the social comparison processes utilized by David when these are shaped by specific forms of embodiment and selective narrative maps of cancer survival.

La investigación narrativa en la educación física y el deporte: qué es y para qué sirve / Narrative research in physical education and sport: what is it and what is it for

La creciente atención despertada por la investigación narrativa en las ciencias sociales ha tenido poco eco en la educacjón física y las ciencias dei deporte. En este artículo, tratamos de compensar esta situación indagando en el significado de este tipo de ínvestígación y su utílídad para nuestro campo. Con el fin de comprender esta nueva y compleja forma de investigación, primero definimos qué es 'narrativa'. A continuación, presentamos los supuestos básicos y las características esenciales de la investigación narrativa. Por último, planteamos algunas razones por las que puede resultar beneficioso el estudio de las narrativas en ámbitos específicos de la educación física y el deporte. En conclusión, consideramos que la investigación narrativa puede resultar un instrumento útil, aunque problemático, para la teorización e investigacíón en nuestro campo. No obstante, lIamamos la atención sobre el riesgo de hacer ínvestígacíón narrativa simplemente porque es algo nuevo o que está de moda. Los investigadores y profesíonales que deseamos hacer investigación narrativa debemos informamos acerca de sus pros y sus contras, así como realizar elecciones responsables y juiciosas sobre por qué y cuándo hacerla

A crescente preocupação pela pesquisa narrativa em ciências sociais tem tido pouco impacto sobre a educação física e ciências do esporte. Neste artigo, vamos tentar compensar esta situação questionando o significado desta pesquisa e sua utilidade para o nosso campo. Para compreender esta nova e complexa forma de pesquisa, o que primeiro tentamos definir que é "narrativa". Posteriormente, apresentamos as premissas básicas e características principais da investigação narrativa. Por fim, apresentamos algumas razões pelas quais ela pode ser benéfica para o estudo das narrativas em áreas específicas da educação físíca e esporte. Em conclusão, acreditamos que a investigação narrativa pode ser uma ferramenta útil, mas problemática, para a teorização e pesquisa em nosso campo. No entanto, chamamos a atenção para o risco de fazer investigação narrativa, simplesmente porque ela seja nova ou esteja na moda. Os pesquisadores e profissionais que queramos fazer pesquisa narrativa devemos informar-nos sobre os seus prós e contras e fazer escolhas responsáveis e sensatas sobre por que e quando fazer

Narrative inquiry is a burgeoning form of research in social sciences that has received little attention in physical education and sport sciences.ln this article, we seek to balance this situation by offering an understanding of what narrative inquiry can be and can offer to our field. In order to gain some theoretical purchase on a difficult field, we first define narrative. Next, a distillation of guiding assumptions and characteristics are offered. Finally, some reasons as to why narratives may be of benefit for the field of physical education and sport. In conclusion, we consider narrative inquiry as a useful, although problematic, way of theorizing and doing research in the domains of physical education, sport and exercise sciences. It should not, however, be taken up or practiced simply because it is new or fashionable. Informed, principled, and responsible choices must be made by researchers and applied professionals about why and when they might engage with narrative inquiry should they wish to do so

Exploring multiple responses to a chaos narrative.

Narratives do things. This performative aspect of narrative includes calling on people for a response. This article explores the responses we have witnessed to a chaos narrative told to us by a disabled man that we then shared with different audiences over time. The following four types of response were identified: depression-therapy restitution stories; breakthrough restitution stories; social model stories; and solace stories. Each kind of response is focused on in detail, and their potentials and limitations are considered. The article does not promote one response over another, or seek the last word on the four responses, as the intention is to generate dialogue rather than to finalize. Future possibilities regarding narrative research and responding to stories are also considered.

Young people living with parental bereavement: Insights from an ethnographic study of a UK childhood bereavement service.

The purpose of this two-year ethnographic study was to explore the experiences of parentally bereaved young people who sought support from the Rocky Centre (a pseudonym), a childhood bereavement service in the United Kingdom. Data were generated from extended periods of participant observation and semi-structured interviews with both staff and service users. In this article we focus specifically on the interviews with 13 young people to elucidate the factors that helped them to live with parental bereavement. Of these participants, four had been recently bereaved and nine had experienced the death of a parent over ten years ago. Seven key themes emerged from the analysis of the interview data: expressing emotion, physical activity, positive adult relationship(s), area of competence, friendships/social support, having fun/humour and transcendence. These themes are discussed in turn, and implications for research and practice are addressed.

Socialización y proceso de construcción de la identidad profesional del educador físico de una prisión / Socialization and construction process of the professional identity of a physical educator in a prison

El objetivo de este trabajo consiste en indagar en la construcción de la identidad profesional de Alex(pseudónimo), el educador físico responsable de la actividad física y el deporte de una prisión española. Para ello hemosutilizado una perspectiva biográfico-dialéctica basada, fundamentalmente, en entrevistas, que atiende especialmente a lasexperiencias previas, las fuentes contextuales y las estrategias micropolíticas utilizadas por Alex en su lugar de trabajo. Labúsqueda de unas mejores condiciones de trabajo y reconocimiento profesional mediatizan las estrategias utilizadas en lanegociación diaria de su identidad profesional. Pero dicha identidad también se ha construido en un diálogo entre suexperiencia deportiva y el discurso del rendimiento que se encuentra presente a nivel macrosocial. Este estudio ejemplificaun caso particular, aunque no único, de socialización profesional que contribuye a iluminar la (re)construcción de laidentidad de los profesionales de la actividad física y el deporte que trabajan en contextos marginales (AU)

The purpose of this paper is to explore the construction of the professional identity of Alex (a pseudonym),a physical educator in charge of sport and physical activity in a Spanish prison. To this end, we used a biographical-dialecticperspective based mainly on interviews especially focused on prior experiences, contextual resources and the micropoliticalstrategies Alex used in his workplace. The search for better job conditions and professional recognition mediated thestrategies he used during the daily negotiation of his professional identity. Yet, this identity was also constructed in a dialoguebetween his experiences in sport and the performance discourse present at the macro-social level. This study exemplifiesa particular, yet not unique case of professional socialization that helps illuminate the (re)construction of identity ofthose physical activity and sport professionals who work in marginal contexts (AU)

Changing bodies, changing narratives and the consequences of tellability: a case study of becoming disabled through sport.

This article explores the life story of a young man who experienced a spinal cord injury (SCI) and became disabled though playing the sport of rugby union football. His experiences post SCI illuminate the ways in which movement from one form of embodiment to another connects him to a dominant cultural narrative regarding recovery from SCI that is both tellable and acceptable in terms of plot and structure to those around him. Over time, the obdurate facts of his impaired and disabled body lead him to reject this dominant narrative and move into a story line that is located on Norrick's (2005) upper-bounding side of tellability. This makes it transgressive, frightening, difficult to hear, and invokes the twin processes of deprivation of opportunity and infiltrated consciousness as described by Nelson (2001). These, and the effects of impairment, are seen to have direct consequences for the tellability of embodied experiences along with identity construction and narrative repair over time. Finally, some reflections are offered on how the conditions that negate the telling of his story might be challenged.

Men, sport, spinal cord injury, and narratives of hope.

Drawing on data from a life history study of a small group of men who have suffered spinal cord injury and become disabled through playing sport, this article explores the meanings of hope in their lives. It focuses upon the life stories of 14, white, predominantly working-class men, aged 26-51. The most common kinds of hope used by the men were shaped by three powerful narrative types that circulate in Western cultures. These were 'concrete hope' (the most common form), shaped by the restitution narrative; 'transcendent hope', shaped by the quest narrative; and 'despair' or loss of any kind of hope, shaped by the chaos narrative. The implications of this dynamic process for their identity reconstruction as disabled men are considered.

Towards a geography of fitness: an ethnographic case study of the gym in British bodybuilding culture.

During recent years, research in health geography has engaged with peoples' health as well as diseases, an interest reflected by therapeutic geographies and geographies of public health. At the same time, studies have focused on micro-contexts such as the body, reflected in geographies of diseased and disadvantaged bodies. However, little research has combined elements of the two approaches and engaged in research on active healthy bodies and fitness. Equally the sub-discipline of sports geography provides little insight into fitness activities because this research has tended to focus on elite sports, their fans and facilities. Given these contexts, a detailed case study is presented to demonstrate the potential for geographical research on fitness. Through an observational study of a specialist gym facility, the study investigates how bodybuilding culture and place are co-produced. Indeed, the gym provides a narrative resource and a crucial setting for individual body projects and collective body culture which involve social conflicts, cohesions and hierarchies, illegal and potentially health harming activities, as well as personal comfort and therapeutic attachments. It is argued that beyond this case study, many activities crosscut health maintenance, or conversely risks to health, and the enjoyment of sports and fitness. A greater emphasis therefore at the sub-disciplinary interface of sports and health geography on hybrid 'fitness geographies' may help researchers towards a more comprehensive understanding, and coverage, of health issues in society.