As I don’t go to many outwardly social events, I am choosing to write about the social climate at my gym. I think that the gym is mainly a front stage, with little back stages that you can retreat to. Many people come to the gym to manage how others see them by showing off how their body looks or how hard they work, they are performing for the crowd. In the gym setting, personal space is a very strange thing, with everyone having their opinion on what personal space constitutes as. I also noticed some role conflict going on while observing these people working out. There are many things going on in this social setting. Early in my observations I noticed a man lifting quite a large amount of weight. However, he would wait quite a while
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The weight room is quite tiny, so it’s no wonder there was a bit of crowding in there. What I thought was strange is that I observed some people maintaining a strict personal bubble, while being careful not to violate others space. On the other hand, there were some people who disregarded their own and everyone else’s personal space. For example, one man lifting weight would move dumbbells far from their start location, away from everyone else, and into a corner. He would then work out there, far from the group. On the other hand, there were a few lifters who would move benches close to other people working out, clearly getting too close for safe lifting. I felt invaded for the people being invaded. Another violation of personal space took place in the cardio room. One man had placed his jacket on the stationary bike next to him, during semi-peak hours. Others would seemingly walk in wanting to use the bike, but since it appeared to be claimed they couldn’t use it. I believe this ties in with what Henslin says in the book, specifically, “you might even spread books in front of the other chairs, keeping the whole table to yourself by giving the impression that others have just stepped away.” (Henslin, p.108). I think some type of letting go of your preferred personal bubble distance goes on at the gym. People may prefer to social distance of 4-12 feet, but are forced to be sweaty next to someone at the personal distance of 18in-4 feet (Henslin,
The weight room is quite tiny, so it’s no wonder there was a bit of crowding in there. What I thought was strange is that I observed some people maintaining a strict personal bubble, while being careful not to violate others space. On the other hand, there were some people who disregarded their own and everyone else’s personal space. For example, one man lifting weight would move dumbbells far from their start location, away from everyone else, and into a corner. He would then work out there, far from the group. On the other hand, there were a few lifters who would move benches close to other people working out, clearly getting too close for safe lifting. I felt invaded for the people being invaded. Another violation of personal space took place in the cardio room. One man had placed his jacket on the stationary bike next to him, during semi-peak hours. Others would seemingly walk in wanting to use the bike, but since it appeared to be claimed they couldn’t use it. I believe this ties in with what Henslin says in the book, specifically, “you might even spread books in front of the other chairs, keeping the whole table to yourself by giving the impression that others have just stepped away.” (Henslin, p.108). I think some type of letting go of your preferred personal bubble distance goes on at the gym. People may prefer to social distance of 4-12 feet, but are forced to be sweaty next to someone at the personal distance of 18in-4 feet (Henslin,