From ballet to jiu-jitsu: How gender boundaries in hobbies are fading

남녀의 구별이 사라진다 성별을 뛰어넘는 취미열전

Hobbies show no concerns regarding gender distinctions, and nowadays, this looks to be the case for those involving exercise, including sports, where such stereotypes may still exist.
Choi Soo-hyung tells the story.

A private ballet academy in Gwangjin-gu district in Seoul.
42-year-old Seo Yoon-ho who is a government official has been learning ballet for seven years.

"About 10 years ago, I watched a ballet performance and thought it was really great. Most of the people I watched together with were also doing ballet as a hobby, and they encouraged me to try it too."

He said a 90-minute class burns as many calories as a football game.
Within just five minutes of starting, his whole body is already covered in sweat.
As the only man in the evening class, Seo said he doesn't have time to feel embarrassed or think about being the only male.

"As you can see, I'm sweating a lot. There's no time to think about others. I'm too busy just doing ballet. They are just my colleagues, that's all. I don't really worry about it, I just dance hard without thinking much, like everyone else."

Kim Min-kyung, the director of "Ballet Mihak," said that more men are asking about ballet lately, either to fix their body shape or simply because they love dancing.
She added that men can start ballet in shorts and a T-shirt, just like in any other fitness activity.

"Men often hesitate because of the outfit at first. But you can wear whatever feels comfortable, just like when you're in a fitness center. Ballet has many benefits, like improving posture, so I highly recommend it for men too."

The distinction between calm and intense exercises is now just a matter of looks.
At a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy named MOVEMENT in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul, the place was packed with people learning various techniques.

"Recently, many women have become interested in martial arts, so many have started taking classes in sports like boxing and jiu-Jitsu."

Master Lim Tae-uk said that about 40 percent of his students are women currently, as interest in self-defense has grown.

"Due to hormonal differences, it is generally not easy for women to beat men in physical combat, in martial arts. But in jiu-jitsu, you learn technical skills that can overcome these physical gaps, so it's often said to be a sport where women can beat men. I think that's why more women are interested in it as a self-defense sport."

Kim Mi-ji, who has been practicing jiu-jitsu for six years, said it helped her regain a healthy lifestyle and become more energetic.
She understands why some women might feel uncomfortable about the inevitable contact between bodies in jiu-jitsu.

"Since it's a sport mostly done by men, people often ask how I can do it with such body contact. But it's really just exercise. In fact, it's more fun for women because it gives you the confidence to handle yourself in any dangerous situation. I think that makes it even more enjoyable."

Suzanne, who has been living in South Korea for 7 years, has spent most of her free time here, practicing jiu-jitsu.

"I highly recommend it to everybody, especially to women because I think it's very empowering and you really realize the strength that you have, and you may not realize that you have it."

The common understanding that personal beauty and confidence don’t require gender distinctions is becoming one of the reasons gender boundaries in hobbies are fading out.

Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

#sports #hobby #gender_equality #gender_distinction #남녀성별 #성별 #취미 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스

2024-08-30, 18:00 (KST)