Zumba by Sophie-Rose Corker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j A field study into why zumba is so populuar with women. en-us 2017-03-11 13:12:03 UTC 2025-02-21 21:35:38 UTC hello@padlet.com What is zumba? sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159432529 - 'Dance fitness classes that are fun, energetic and make you feel amazing!'
- Inspired by Latin and world rhythms
- Classes taken by around 12 llion people around the globe- very popular!
- 'For everybody and every body'

information from official Zumba website: https://www.zumba.com/en-US/party]]> 2017-03-11 13:18:01 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159432529 The research focus and background reading sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159433020 Why is zumba got a reputation for being a female form of exercise?

Hypothesis: Is it a backlash against the environment of the gym?

'The Womens Sport and Fitness Foundation says that women may be conscious about how they look when exercising and can be put off from exercising in male-dominated spaces like gyms.' [Poole,online,2013]

]]> 2017-03-11 13:26:52 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159433020 The Male Gaze sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159433622 In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female…In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness                                                                                                                  Laura Mulvey, Visual and other pleasures

Is the objectification of women at the gym the result of popular culture in the visual arts? Particularly in music videos, e.g.  Ariana Grande's Side to Side.
]]> 2017-03-11 13:39:26 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159433622 My field study sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159434913 What? Zumba Class
Where?  443-445 Sheffield Road, Chesterfield, S418LT (https://www.zumba.com/en-US/class/angie-barker/4dad27ec-5c28-491d-a331-299e0af53658 )
Why? Wanted to observe and take  part in the class, see why these women enjoyed coming to the zumba class, see if there are any links to my hypothesis
Method of research? Informal interviewing. Collected quantative data from a larger group, collected qualitative data from a small focus group of 3 people. Relaxed setting allows people to speak openly.
Limitations? Some class participants couldn't stay at the end, potentially not answering questions honestly because I am a stranger, effects on answers of social conditioning.]]> 2017-03-11 14:07:05 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159434913 Results sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159436078 The following pie charts are based on questions I asked to 16 out of the 19 class participants:]]> 2017-03-11 14:20:21 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159436078 sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159436225 What was the Male/Female ratio at the Class?]]> 2017-03-11 14:23:20 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159436225 sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159436881 2017-03-11 14:36:39 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159436881 sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159437704 2017-03-11 14:52:31 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159437704 Focus Group Responses sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159437884 The following are a selection of the responses from questions  asked to 3 of the class participants:

Why do you take Zumba class?
'I like that it's something I can do with my friends'
'It's just fun, it's a nice atmosphere and I don't feel self conscious!!'
' Other classes or ways to exercise can feel quite pressurised, at zumba you can do it at whatever level you like'

Do you also go to the gym? If not, why?
'Yes, I go around 3 times a week'
'I have a membership but I don't go a lot, and don't enjoy so it's hard to motivate myself!'
'I don't go, I don't like the competitive vibe and I just feel a bit awkward'


Do you think the female orientated reputation of Zumba has an impact on your participation in the class?
'I like the atmosphere with all women, it's social which is nice. But I wouldn't mind if guys joined the classes!'
'It doesn't bother me either way really'
'I like zumba because it's not super intense, there's no showing off or pressure. I don't know if that's because it's all women....'
]]> 2017-03-11 14:55:21 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159437884 Analysis and Conclusions sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159439650 Link between Zumba participants not liking atmosphere the gym. Can see this in the vocal responses and the small amount of class participants who use the gym (19%)

All female group doesn't appear to the predominant reason women go to Zumba class. May be a factor?

Zumba offers an alternative exercise form that has a fun, inclusive enviroment. This appears to particularly appeal to women. Potentially this is because the objectification of women at the gym makes them feel uncomfortable, but it could also be a wide range of other factors. In order to make a full conclusion on this more data would need to be collected from a wider range of Zumba class participants.]]> 2017-03-11 15:24:22 UTC https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159439650 Bibliography sophiecorker https://padlet.com/sophiecorker/o55lr82kma7j/wish/159440416 Mulvey, L. (2009). Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. In: Mulvey, L (2009) Visual and other pleasures. 2nd ediition. UK; Palgrave MacMillian.
Poole, G. (2013). Women only gym sessions are not part of a feminist plot [Internet]. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/23/women-only-gym-not-a-feminist-plot [accessed on 25/2/2017]
Grande, A. (2016 ).Side to Side  [Internet]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXiSVQZLje8
Goldman, H. (2013).What It's like to be a woman at the gym (2013). [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Nr4wE2ZE0 [accessed on 11/3/2017]
Zumba, Zumba Classes [internet]. Available from https://www.zumba.com/en-US/party [accessed on 25/2/2017]
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