“Awful Skinny Boys” – Male Musical Theatre Performers’ Experiences of Body Image: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis

Journal article


Carr, M.E. and Lewis, E.G. (2024). “Awful Skinny Boys” – Male Musical Theatre Performers’ Experiences of Body Image: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Empirical Studies of the Arts. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237424127584
AuthorsCarr, M.E. and Lewis, E.G.
Abstract

Body dissatisfaction is likely to be particularly salient in aesthetically focused professions, including the performing arts. However, there is a paucity of research involving male theatre performers. This study addressed this omission by exploring how male musical theatre actors experience body image. Interviews were conducted with 7 male performers and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings illustrate the lasting influence that instructors and the training environment have upon the participants’ perceptions of their bodies, participants’ desire to appear masculine through greater muscularity, and the dissatisfaction that occurs when they perceive that their bodies do not conform to rigid notions of gender and body ideals. This study also provides insight into the nuanced experience of existing within a body of worth, often commodified and sold to audiences. These findings highlight the importance of facilitating a supportive training environment and opening up conversations about body dissatisfaction among male performers.

KeywordsTheatre Performers; Performing Arts Training; Male Body Image; Body Dissatisfaction; Masculinity
Year2024
JournalEmpirical Studies of the Arts
PublisherSage
ISSN0276-2374
1541-4493
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/0276237424127584
Web address (URL)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02762374241275841
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Aug 2024
Deposited29 Aug 2024
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Open
Accepted author manuscript
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File Access Level
Controlled
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https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/98005

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