Women and Thai Boxing Exercise and Gender Fluidity

Abstract

This research aims to explain the perception of womanhood among women who exercise by doing Thai boxing. The study also explores the range of meaning in all possible deviations in female boxing as well as the physical problems which can occur by doing Thai boxing. The research used qualitative strategies, and in-depth interviews were conducted with of 20 women who exercise by doing Thai boxing, two gym managers and two Thai boxing trainers from two gyms in Bangkok’s parameter area. The participant observation method was applied in this study for total 240 hours, and the researcher participated in the exercise for four months. The content analysis was used to analyze data. The results of the study state that women who exercise by doing Thai boxing perceive their femaleness as the inferior sex. Therefore, they have to increase more endurance and more masculinity when they exercise by doing Thai boxing. Nevertheless, the women boxers still recognize themselves as masculine rather than feminine, and this recognition can be clearly seen by action of saying words “Man up”. The meanings of exercise with Thai boxing vary from each other and they do it for good health, for self-protection, for self-identification of being healthy, for relaxing and for socializing. Thai boxing might cause nerve and muscle injuries. However, those injuries are understood as the normal effect of exercise by seeing from “The worrier would have wound”. The research examined the contradiction of the femininity in the area of Thai boxing exercise.