Despite a societal obsession with being in shape, fitness is less accessible than ever, given expensive gym memberships, pricey equipment and costly clothing, says an author and academic who studies contemporary culture.
'You have all of these gyms and all of these brands and all of this exercise messaging in your face, but we have not kept up with that in terms of funding robust physical education,' says an author and academic who studies contemporary culture.
Though exercise feels "kind of everywhere" right now, she says, that wasn't always the case. As recently as the early 20th century, people who exercised regularly — and not for sport — "were really considered freaks," said Petrzela, who is also an associate professor of history at The New School, a university in New York City.
"It's framed as something that you need to do in order to achieve extrinsic goals — you need to look a certain way — as opposed to intrinsic goals," he said. "When it really should be inviting people to just move. You know, do something that you love. It doesn't require special clothes, it doesn't require you to be part of this extreme community."
Petrzela says the story of fitness culture is one of "expansion, expansion, expansion," but that expansion has not improved access for the less affluent. "We have ample evidence now that to be a person of colour, and going for a run through the streets, is not the same experience as being a white person," she said. She also shares that as a woman, she feels less safe being outside during certain hours, which limits her ability to exercise during the winter.
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