Week 11: Results
Avni C -
And it’s the almost the final week!
I have finished my data analysis in its entirety and have come across some interesting trends and results.
The findings of this study reveal prominent patterns in gendered fitness messaging across Men’s Health and Women’s Health. In earlier issues, the 2014 issues of Women’s Health, there was an emphasis on cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, and core training, reinforcing the idea that women should be slim, toned, and graceful. These trends reflect traditional aesthetic ideals, prioritizing how women look rather than how they perform. However, data from the 2024 issues shows an increase in discussions around motor performance and mental wellness, signifying a shift towards a more functional and holistic presentation of fitness for women. Despite this, the persistence of cardio as a prominent theme in Women’s Health in 2024 suggests that gendered expectations have not entirely disappeared.
In contrast, Men’s Health has shown consistency in its fitness messaging over the past decade; expectations for men’s fitness have remained largely static. Strength as a goal was prominent in the 2014 issues, while mental wellness is understated in the 2024 issues. The static messaging within Men’s Health suggests that traditional masculine ideals – power and physical dominance – are still a large part of fitness messaging for men. Meanwhile, the low mentions of mental and emotional health suggest that the definition of fitness for men within Men’s Health has not expanded to include holistic health. The lack of diverse exercise goals may discourage men from exploring forms of fitness that include benefits beyond muscle gain. Moreover, this rigid portrayal can alienate men who do not resonate with strength-centric narratives, limiting the reach of fitness for a broader male audience. Comparatively, while Women’s Health shows a trajectory towards inclusivity, Men’s Health shows a trajectory of stagnancy in its messaging.
These results supported my initial hypothesis of differences in gendered fitness messaging being more prominent in 2014 and converging as time passes on. I will say, I was surprised to see that there was absolutely no change in fitness messaging for men in this past decade; I figured that nearly everything has to change with time, but this one really didn’t. The complete lack of change is an extremely strong indicator that fitness magazines needs to do a much better job of promoting holistic health to their male audience.
I’m excited to present these results; see you all next week!