The Subculture of Weightlifting

Sebastian Jones

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the weightlifting subculture that is present within the gym. Subcultures are present in many facets of life and are often overlooked due to a lack of knowledge surrounding the subject and a lack of exposure to how present they are. For weightlifting in particular, the process of ‘joining’ one of the various subcultures can be as simple as showing up and performing a specific set of exercises. This subculture includes forms of weightlifting such as CrossFit, Powerlifting, Bodybuilding, Endurance Training, Strength Training, and Olympic lifting. By gathering data from Lander Campus Recreation gym patrons with a 19-question survey, the researcher was able to learn about whether people are actively participating in this subculture, how they got involved, and to what degree they are involved in it.

• Sebastian Jones is from Aiken, SC. He is a senior pursuing a double major in psychology and sociology. He is a member of the international honors societies Psi Chi (psychology) and Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology). After graduating from Lander, he will be pursuing a Master of Social Work from the University of Houston.