Özet:

The social meaning attributed to the body has differed in various social structures and periods, and body perception has gone through many stages in the historical process. The body was sometimes seen as an object whose aesthetic beauty was brought to the fore, sometimes as a being the carrier of the soul, and sometimes as a machine. The meaning attributed to the female body has also undergone changes depending on historical processes. For example, while displaying things that make women more beautiful is not welcomed in traditional societies, the opposite has been the case in modern/postmodern societies. The ideal body size of the woman and the aesthetic aspect of her body were highlighted, and they were made to internalize this situation voluntarily. Physical activity and sports activities have taken an important place in women's lives in order to reach the idealized body measurements. In this article, the meanings attributed to the female body by the society and the effect of the female body perception, which is shown as an ideal in the society, on women's willingness to engage in sportive activities are tried to be examined. While shaping the female body by doing sports activities, it was aimed to reveal a possible change and difference in the perspective of women against society and society against women, and the female body was addressed with a sociological perspective. This research was conducted in August 2017 at the gymnasium with the most female members in Düzce. In this context, interviews were held with 28 women who participated in sports activities, of different ages, education and professions. Qualitative research method and in-depth interview technique were used in the study in question. As a result of the research, it was revealed that women were significantly affected by the female body measurements accepted as ideal in the society, therefore they were not satisfied with their bodies that did not fit these measurements, and they did sports activities to reach the ideal measurements. Thinness and weakness which are apparently presented as the ideal body, are seen as important for success and reputation in society, while being overweight is considered embarrassing, failure, and lack of will. This situation, consciously or not, affects women too much, causes them to worry about being evaluated negatively in terms of their bodies and negatively affects their self-confidence.