Sweating

Territories in Question: Routes in Territories
Real and Symbolic Treatment of Sweating
By Gilles Raveneau
English

Today’s cult of the body associated with the recognition of the benefits of exercising have brought out the bodily fluids and thus made sweat more valuable as evidence of a good work out. However, if sweat does have a place in sporting and fitness activities, it remains a threat. The smell and the stains of perspiration are not only considered to be unpleasant and dirty, but they are often object of disgust. This article, based on ethnographic surveys in several ballet and fitness clubs and gymnasiums, discusses the ways to treat perspiration. The observation of physical and sports practices shows that sweat is the subject of a specific treatment and obliteration.Sweating is nothing trivial, on the contrary, it involves a practical and symbolic treatment which aims at its neutralization. Thereby we can highlight the presence of a social scheme to help avoid the irruption of disgust. The disgust of sweat is then related to social and gender differences. Today like yesterday perspiration and its odours are essentially distinctive in social relationships.

Keywords

  • disgust
  • sweat
  • odours
  • body
  • sports
  • gender
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