Bodybuilding practices in the formation of male identity: The example of Tatvan

The main purpose of this research is to examine the role of bodybuilding, which is a physical activity, and the role of training programs, nutrition and nutritional supplements, which are important practices in this field, in the construction of masculinity identities through eyes of men who are interested in bodybuilding. Within the scope of the research, the relations between the desired muscular body and masculinitiesin order to achieve masculinity, which is the ultimate goal of bodybuilding, were also examined with theoretical frameworks. These thheoretical framewoeks cover the effects of bodybuilding on the reproduction of male identity fort he sub-titles of the research. In addition, the dynamics of bodybuilding's creation of different masculinities or the development of hierarchical relations by marginalizing men and women outside of this field were examined. In this study, in-depth interview technique was used as a qualitative research method. In the study, in order to collect data suitable for the purpose of the subject, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 15 male participants who live in the Tatvan district of Bitlis and are interested in bodybuilding, using the semi-structured interview technique, and the audio recordings of the interviews were then transcribed and analyzed. In the findings obtained as a result of the research; Bodybuilding is accepted as an activity in which men are numerically superior, both biologically (testosterone hormone) and culturally, that is, as the ideal body produced by gender. The main reason why men are more visible in bodybuilding is that the muscular body, which is the ultimate goal of bodybuilding, is seen as a symbol of masculinity. Wide shoulders, muscular arms, well-built breasts and abdominal muscles, which are accepted as the ideal male body in the field of bodybuilding, are also accepted as the representation of courage, strength and endurance, that is (hegemonic) masculinity. Those who want to build their masculinity identities through the body resort to intense and challenging training programs to achieve the body appearance they desire and to rich nutrition programs to meet daily energy needs. In addition to training and nutrition programs in bodybuilding sports, nutritional supplements have an important place for faster and easier building of muscle development, which is the presentation of masculinity. Because nutrition is often insufficient to meet the energy needs required in this area. For this reason, additional nutritional supplements are considered as an important practice of bodybuilding in meeting the daily energy needs and obtaining the desired muscular body. Keywords: Bodybuilding, physical capital, masculinity, additional nutritional supplement