Institutional Analysis essay

Prof. Miller

ENG 101 B13B

18 Nov 2015

Bodhi Fitness Center Life

Why do people go to the gym, how do they get there, and what do they do there? Before I did my observation of my gym, I had many questions. The place I chose is the Bodhi Fitness Center. During my observation, I realized that gender roles in this gym is very interesting, because in most other gyms, men and women are mixed and they work out together, except in some gym that are only for women, like Lucille Roberts. But this gym is very rigid because men and women will automatically separate when they work out. So I use this gym to explore the rigid system of gender roles. Even though the system is never written down and not said to any one, every one follows that. This system shows how men and women keep the gym clean, use machines, wear clothes, talk, hydrate, and view self-improvement very differently in the Bodhi Fitness Center.

First of all, men and women at Bodhi Fitness Center are clean differently; women are absolutely cleaner than men. When I entered men’s locker room, I felt the importance of cleanliness is abundant upon entering men’s locker room. A large sign filled with rules all about keeping the facility clean. Every section has an antiseptic wipes to wipe down machines after each use to ensure the machines stay clean along with an abundance of trashcans. For example, when women finish using the machines or treadmills in this gym, they usually clean very nicely. They wipe down every corner of the machines and treadmills. However, men just wipe down the machines and treadmills very quickly, then go. Men who do not wipe up after working out, especially on cardio machines tend to get dirty looks by women. There is an article showed how cleanliness important is, “Without diligent cleaning, gyms can become breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses and fungi that are harmful to human health,” says Adams, associate professor of dermatology and director of the UC Physicians sports dermatology clinic. (Harper). Unlike men, women pay attention to details when they clean in the gym.

The second norm that has a lot of influence in Bodhi is how men and women have different practices at gym. Men and women separate when working out. They use different machines and different areas. Men never use elliptical machines or stair-masters while women will use those along with treadmills like men. As a result, women tend to cluster on different cardio machines while men focus more on weights than cardio. Males dominate the free weight room. Women rarely go in and if they do, they often go with friend. If women will lift weights, she will most likely use weight machines that are out in the open near elliptical machines. I have been in Bodhi many times for my observations. I noticed a girl named Michelle Wong. Every time I walk through the gym, I saw her only work on machines and cardio machine areas instead of going to free weight room. That made me curious, so during her break time, I asked her why she does go to free weight room?

“I often pick an elliptical machines of some type then use weight machines like many other women. I have never been in the weight room and would never go without a friend.” Michelle said.

While she was talking, that reminds me the article “In College Gym, A Time For Women Only,” by Beckie Supiano. This article talks about college gym making women only time because religious women never work out with men, and even regular women don’t want to work out with men either, they don’t want to be made fun by men. “The women-only time is a comfort to women who want to learn how to bench-press using just the bar, and to women who can lift a lot of weight and don’t want to be made fun of by guys” (Supiano). This situation is related to Michelle, she does not want to go to free weight room by herself because that feels intimidating to her and it is much easier to stay out on machines. She only go to free weight room with friend that makes her comfortable.

Men and women even dress very differently at Bodhi. Women are more likely to wear vibrant color but also clothes mad of synthetic fabrics designed for wicking sweat off the body. Women wear tight athletic leggings or exercise shorts but often lean towards leggings to stay warm. Women seem to spend time thinking about what they will wear to the gym. However, men do not seem to think much about their outfit. Men lean towards blacks and greys made out of generic cotton. Men will wear basketball shorts or other athletic clothing but they rarely deviate from the cotton shirt rule. Some of them will wear shirts with sleeves cut off but they will almost always be cotton. In this unique culture, men and women do not dress the same.

In most gyms, men and women have interaction, they talk to each other. But in Bodhi, they just want to work out by themselves. Women in Bodhi center rarely speak to men, let alone make eye contact. Even when using weight machines facing each other, the two people will do anything to avoid eye contact. I noticed two people sitting side by side at abductor machines and whenever the man looked in the woman’s direction, she quickly flicked her head to the side to avoid any possible eye contact. The no eye contact rule is an extension of the general rule of limiting talking. But sometimes people do talk to each other in the gym but the circumstances have specific requirements. For two people to talk to each other, they must either know each other prior to their run in or have already established a friendship and have gone to the gym together.

“A male friend and I go to the gym together on Tuesday and Friday mornings and we only talk long enough to discuss how long we will be staying at the gym. Otherwise, we listen to our music like everyone else and work out independently,” Michelle also said.

While she was talking, I noticed a man and woman talking by two machines. They were friends who ran into each other. They talked about their day quickly then replaced their headphones and entered their own worlds again. Besides these instances, deviations from the maintaining the individual rule are rarely observed.

In Bodhi, men and women also hydrate differently. There is drinking fountains and water bottle fillers in front of locker room. Most men bring their own water bottle and constantly drink out of it while working out. However, more women just staying in smoothie bar, which they provide healthy shake, juice beverage, sports drink, or just plain water. Many of these drinks will include vitamins that are essential for the most beneficial workout. So, there is distant for hydrate between men and women.

The last norm related to gender is self-improvement. All people are there to change themselves for the better. But men and women focus on different self-improvement. This is symbolized by the numerous mirrors paneling every wall so that each person can see himself or herself constantly and see what they need to change. Many males prefer use free weights while standing in front of the mirror staring at their reflection. During my observation, I saw a man, named John Marando, who is Queens College students, he come to Bodhi four times per week and usually use free weight. He said that “every time I use dumbbells to build up my muscle while standing in front of mirror, it can help me improve myself, and I’ll know what I need to improved.” Beside, for girls, they just want to improve their body shape instead of building muscle. According to my interview person Michelle, “I only want to further improve my belly, then my body shape will looks better.”

I found it easy to study the culture at Bodhi because I willingly take part in that culture weekly. However, I was surprised at finding such a distinctive culture. Bodhi Fitness Center focuses on people remaining independent from each other, and there is a clear culture with widely accepted norms about gender.

Work Cited

“ ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-years Estimates for 11355.” American Fact Finder. United States Censns Burean. Web. 12 Nov. 2015

“ ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-years Estimates for 11368.” American Fact Finder. United States Censns Burean. Web. 12 Nov. 2015

Harper, Amanda. “Exercise Caution: Harmful Germs May Lurk on Gym Equipment.” University of Cincinnati Health News. Aug. 2008. Academic Search Complete. Web. 15 Nov. 2015

Marando, John. Personal interview. 12 Nov 2015.

Supiano, Beckie. "In College Gyms, A Time For Women Only." Chronicle Of Higher Education 54.28 (2008): A19. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

Wong, Michelle. Personal interview. 9 Nov, 13 Nov and 17 Nov 2015.