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Sociologist's brutal Chicago boxing gym immersion detailed
1 Jul
Summary
- French sociologist studied boxing novices in Chicago for years.
- His book, 'Body Soul,' chronicles deep immersion in the sport.
- Wacquant explored exploitation and masculinity in prizefighting.
Loic Wacquant, a French sociologist, immersed himself in the world of boxing for several years at Chicago's Woodlawn Gym. Starting as a complete novice in 1988, he trained rigorously, eventually competing in a Golden Gloves tournament and even contemplating a professional boxing career.
His experiences led to the publication of "Body Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer" in 2003. The book details Wacquant's personal journey and offers sociological analysis of the sport, including the dynamics between fighters and trainers.
Further research by Wacquant has explored themes such as the "dialectic of desire and domination" in boxing and the "work of the trainer as virile mothering." His academic papers delve into the exploitative nature of prizefighting, likening fighter-manager relationships to pimp-prostitute dynamics and the ring to a plantation.
