Performances of Pain: Women and Triathlons," Erin Striff

This lecture was very interesting to see. I never looked at the performance of pain, and more specifically, how woman are portrayed through this. Erin's lecture pointed out how woman who were photographed were oftentimes smiling and very welcoming, while males seemed to take pictures which defined the male qualities of aggression and athleticism. This is a very intriguing contrast from one another, despite the similar obstacles they must endure to complete such a task. The Iron Man, more specifically, is an event that is intensely gruesome. Through the video of Julie Moss competing in the 1982 Ironman, I was amazed at the sense of determination she endured in order to complete such an overwhelming phenomena. The Ironman ultimately tests the limits of the body, and it is clear that this competition shows the immense stamina needed in order to even complete it. Mrs. Striff also pointed out how there is no Ironwoman, but the competition remains Ironman despite the attendance of females in the competition. Oftentimes anything athletic is considered a male domain, and I wonder if this is due to the history of gender roles. In the past, the males were the hunters for the family, while the woman stayed at home doing domestic work. Is this innate history part of the everlasting impact that we still associate with male and female roles, and more specifically in triathons? I think this would be an interesting idea to explore more intently in order to grasp the fuller depth of this identity.