The social representations of the female body in the speeches of Master students speeches of physical education

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify and analyze the social representations of the body established in the imaginary of female Master students of stricto sensu graduate programs in physical education of public universities in the State of Paraná. This exploratory research with qualitative data analysis was developed with support of social representations theory, which provided the basic conditions for the understanding of the investigative object. To identify the meanings of representations, obtained through interviews with 13 female Master students, we used the discourse analysis technique. The results show that the social representations of the student’s body are still based in everyday relationships and discourses that are intertwined in society, in which the perfect body, thin, lean/fit still remains the social standard of beauty set in the social imaginary of society in general.