Author(s): HADFIELD, J., TOSELLI, S., CHANTAL, A., Institution: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED STATES, Abstract-ID: 537

This qualitative, cross-cultural study investigated the lived experiences of body ideals among adult women in Italy and the US. Recognizing the inherent limitations of quantitative methods in capturing subjective, culturally embedded lived experiences, our research was systematically grounded in a critical feminist paradigm. We employed semi-structured interviews to generate rich, descriptive data, collecting seventeen interviews (n=17). Data were systematically analyzed using critical event analysis and iterative, collaborative coding, enhanced by regular peer debriefing and a transparent, reflexive stance from our diverse, linguistically proficient research team to ensure analytical depth. We found that both Italian and US women universally experienced their bodies as a "spectacle," driven by social comparison, guilt, shame, and pervasive media influence. However, through this systematic comparative analysis, significant cultural distinctions emerged concerning the intricate role of sport/exercise in these experiences. Our findings analytically revealed that, for Italian women, narratives emphasized explicit familial influences and early negative experiences with sport, conceptualized as a "spectacle of movement" that often deterred sustained participation in physical activity and fostered body shame related to performance. They navigated body image challenges across various life stages, exhibiting internal contradictions between intellectually valuing holistic well-being and emotional shame that profoundly impacted their motivation for active lifestyles. US women demonstrated a significant and directive influence from social media promoting a "fit ideal," intensifying pressure to perform it in public fitness/exercise environments, which we termed a "spectacle of compliance." This often led to an ageless, achievement-oriented approach to their bodies, in which natural physiological changes were less acknowledged, and exercise was framed as a mandatory endeavor for aesthetic conformity rather than for intrinsic enjoyment or health. This research provides robust qualitative evidence, offering a nuanced and theoretically informed understanding of how patriarchal objectification and performative aesthetics profoundly shape women's body image and their complex relationship with sport/physical activity. The systematic cross-cultural comparison illuminates underlying cultural mechanisms and challenges universalist aesthetic assumptions, underscoring the vital importance of understanding these culturally specific adaptations in the internalization of body ideals. Findings advocate for context-specific, intersectional public health and physical activity promotion interventions that challenge rigid beauty standards, encourage body diversity, and foster intrinsic self-acceptance and joyful movement, thereby supporting women's well-being and sustained engagement in physical activity in an increasingly complex aesthetic landscape.