“Willpower knows no obstacles”: Examining Neoliberal Postfeminist Messaging in Nike’s Transnational Advertisements for Women

2022 ◽  
pp. 216747952110635
Author(s):  
Anna Posbergh ◽  
David L. Andrews ◽  
Samuel M. Clevenger
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Female Athlete ◽  
Transnational Feminism ◽  
Transnational Corporation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Global Marketing ◽  
The Us ◽  
United States Mexico ◽  
Representations Of Women

Nike, a US-headquartered transnational corporation lauded for its putatively empowering women-centered advertisements, frequently releases nationally/regionally focused advertisements depicting women determinedly engaging in physical activity and, in doing so, overcoming gendered barriers and stigmas. Indeed, the global ubiquity of the empowered (Nike-clad) woman illustrates Nike’s role in advancing women’s empowerment, both in the US and globally. Universalizing “just do it” beyond geographical borders, Nike’s form of transnational feminism centers on a carefully manufactured, Western-centered image of empowered female athleticism. However, this notably contradicts transnational feminist efforts to reject the universalization of Western-centered representations of women. Using a critical cultural studies approach in concert with a transnational feminist framework, we analyze six recent Nike advertisements (the United States, Mexico, the Middle East, Turkey, India, and Russia) and critique the corporation’s universalization of neoliberal postfeminist messaging within its global marketing strategies. We find that Nike utilizes three thematics to extend their caricature of the (Nike-powered) female athlete beyond the spatial and symbolic borders of the US market: responsibilitization, competitive individualism, and empowerment. We conclude that Nike normalizes a white, Western-centered neoliberal postfeminism, undermining the structural and sporting realities of the non-white/non-Western women their promotional campaigning seeks to embolden.

scholarly journals The Perceptions of Physical Activity in the Somali Community of the Twin Cities of Minnesota [University of Minnesota, Twin Cities]

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumaya Hassan Noor ◽  
Fahima Osman ◽  
Sarah Reddy Tummala
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Twin Cities ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
University Of Minnesota ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Centers ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
The Us

This qualitative research investigates the perceptions of physical activity held by Muslim Somali men and women in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Following the civil war in Somalia in the early 90s, Minnesota received a large influx of Somali-identified people who eventually formed the largest Somali community in the country. As members of this community, we have observed the wide array of beliefs in how Somali people view physical activity and its importance. Little information exists in the literature about the physical activity levels of Somali-identified people since most of this health information is categorized by race. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in Spring 2018 with participants recruited from local college campus’, mosques, and community centers. Questions probed at how factors such as age, gender, and immigration status impact physical activity. A total of eighteen adult participants were interviewed, eight males and ten females. Data analysis of transcripts included data reduction, conclusion drawing, and verification, using at least two independent reviewers at each stage to protect against bias. Preliminary results demonstrate that most participants conveyed that their religion and culture promote health, but may hinder rates of physical activity. Results also show that changes in lifestyle between Somalia and the US have a direct effect on the decreased rates of physical activity. Immigrant participants listed a different set of needs upon coming to the United States, and physical activity did not rank highly on that list for most. Implications for practice will be discussed, including the need for culturally relevant health promotion as a means of adaptation into the westernized culture and the need for interventions that allow students to incorporate physical well-being with their studies.

scholarly journals Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
Jennifer S Mindell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
High Income ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
Low Income Households

Objective: Quantify inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in England and the United States (US). Design: Population-based cross-sectional study. Participants: 4019 adolescents aged 11-15 years in England (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2015) and 4312 aged 12-17 years in the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-16). Main outcome measures: Three aspects of MVPA: (1) doing any, (2) average min/day (MVPA: including those who did none), and (3) average min/day conditional on participation (MVPA-active). Using hurdle models, we quantified inequalities (average marginal effects: AMEs) using the absolute difference in marginal means. Results: In England, adolescents in high-income households were more likely than those in low-income households to have done any formal sports/exercise in the last seven days (boys: 11%; 95% CI: 4% to 17%; girls: 13%; 95% CI: 6% to 20%); girls in high-income households did more than their low-income counterparts (MVPA: 6 min/day, 95% CI: 2 to 9). Girls in low-income households spent more time in informal activities than girls in high-income households (MVPA: 21 min/day; 95% CI: 10 to 33), whilst boys in low-income versus high-income households spent longer in active travel (MVPA: 21 min/week; 95% CI: 8 to 34). In the US, in a typical week, recreational activity was greater among high-income versus low-income households (boys: 15 min/day; 95% CI: 6 to 24 min/day; girls: 19 min/day; 95% CI: 12 to 27). In contrast, adolescents in low-income versus high-income households were more likely to travel actively (boys: 11%; 95% CI: 3% to 19%; girls: 10%; 95% CI: 3% to 17%) and do more. Conclusions: Policy actions and interventions are required to increase MVPA across all income groups in England and the US. Differences in formal sports/exercise (England) and recreational (US) activities suggest that additional efforts are required to reduce inequalities.

scholarly journals Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: comparisons from two cross-sectional surveys

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaun Scholes ◽  
Jennifer S Mindell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Active Travel ◽  
High Income ◽  
Absolute Difference ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Us ◽  
Low Income Households

Abstract Background: Inequalities in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) may reflect differences in the propensity to do any, the amount of time spent active, or both. Using self-reported data from 4019 adolescents aged 11-15 years in England (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2015) and 4312 aged 12-17 years in the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-16) we examined inequalities in MVPA.Methods: Hurdle models estimated inequalities by household income in three aspects: (1) doing any, (2) average minutes/day (MVPA: including those who did none), and (3) average minutes/day conditional on participation (MVPA-active). Inequalities after confounder adjustment (average marginal effects: AMEs) were quantified by computing the absolute difference in marginal means (low-income households as reference).Results: In England, adolescents in high-income households were more likely than those in low-income households to have done any formal sports/exercise in the last seven days (AMEs boys: 11%; 95% CI: 4, 17; girls: 13%; 6, 20); girls in high-income households spent more time being active than their low-income counterparts (AME formal MVPA: 6 minutes/day, 95% CI: 2, 9). Girls in low-income households spent more time in informal activities than girls in high-income households did (AME informal MVPA: 21 minutes/day; 95% CI: 10, 33), whilst boys in low-income versus high-income households spent longer in active travel (AME active travel MVPA: 21 minutes/week; 95% CI: 8, 34). In the US, in a typical week, recreational activity was greater among high-income versus low-income households (AMEs recreational boys: 15 minutes/day; 95% CI: 6, 24; girls: 19 minutes/day; 95% CI: 12, 27). In contrast, adolescents in low-income versus high-income households were more likely to travel actively (AMEs boys: 11%; 95% CI: 3, 19; girls: 10%; 95% CI: 3, 17) and spend more time engaged. Conclusions: Policy actions and interventions are required to increase levels of MVPA across all income groups in England and the US. Differences in formal sports/exercise (England) and recreational (US) activities suggest that additional efforts are required to move adolescents in low-income households from inactivity to activity, and to enable those already active to do more.

Border regimes and temporal sequestration: An autoethnography of waiting

2021 ◽  
pp. 003802612110488
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Avalos
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Us ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Spatial Terms ◽  
Temporal Dimensions ◽  
United States Mexico ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees ◽  
Us Mexico Border

Research on the US–Mexico border has been overwhelmingly framed in spatial terms focusing primarily on the movements of immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. This current framing and focus obfuscate the United States-Mexico border regime’s temporal dimensions and its impact on communities outside its purported purview. Through autoethnography and my own experiences as a transborder commuter, I develop and propose the concept of temporal sequestration to better understand a pernicious form of border violence that is often omitted in presentist accounts of waiting. Furthermore, I argue that waiting is best understood as a multidimensional practice, one that is relational, learned, and suffused with affect.

scholarly journals A Really Big Button That Doesn’t Do Anything? The Anti-NME Clause in US Trade Agreements Between Law and Geoeconomics

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-64
Author(s):  
Geraldo Vidigal
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
The United States ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Bilateral Agreements ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Us ◽  
United States Mexico ◽  
Legal Consequences

Abstract The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) features a clause, dubbed ‘anti-China’, which sets out legal consequences in case one of the parties negotiates or enters into a free trade agreement (FTA) with a nonmarket economy (NME). A similarly worded objective appears among the negotiating objectives of the US for FTAs with the European Union, Japan, and the United Kingdom. This article examines the anti-NME clause, arguing that its concrete legal consequences are less relevant than its symbolic effects. The USMCA clause itself is difficult to replicate in bilateral agreements, since it depends on cooperation between the two nonsigning parties. Its operation is nonetheless similar to that of two unilateral remedies available under the law of treaties, permitting a reasonable assessment that the clause, if it follows its original design, will aim to permit termination of bilateral US FTAs in response to the other party entering into an NME FTA. While such a clause would offer little in terms of concrete effects if added to agreements that already permit unilateral withdrawal, its greatest value may not be in its legal effects but in its legitimating and signaling properties, which push USMCA parties to establish a common front in the ‘geoeconomic’ dispute between the United States and China.

scholarly journals The digital life of the #migrantcaravan: Contextualizing Twitter as a spatial technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205395172097848
Author(s):  
Margath A Walker ◽  
Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
The United States ◽  
Central American ◽  
Contextual Knowledge ◽  
Digital World ◽  
The Us ◽  
And Migration ◽  
United States Mexico ◽  
Spatial Technology

The Central American migrant caravans of 2018 are best understood as having been precipitated by entangled multi-scalar geopolitical histories among the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Unsurprisingly, the migrants traveling north to the United States garnered widespread attention on social media. So much so that the reaction to the caravan accelerated plans to deploy troops to the US southern border and deny Central Americans the opportunity to seek asylum. This example showcases how the digital world can have exponential material effects. While coverage on border security and migration has been extensive, within political geography, such concerns have rarely been paired with social media. In this article, we take as our object of analysis the digitality or “digital life” of the migrant caravan. Mapping the patterns of migrant caravan-related tweeting paired with the exploration of Twitter’s networked dimensions reveals the platform to be a fundamentally spatial technology. Rather than reflect, refract or distort, Twitter produces and (its power) is in turn produced through spatial mechanisms. We present multiple cartographic visualizations in support of this claim and highlight the ways in which a contextual knowledge of the subject under study—the migrant caravan—can further inform analyses of Big Data.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Pandemic and Antibiotic Use on the United States–Mexico Border

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s47-s48
Author(s):  
Sana Khan ◽  
Katherine Ellingson ◽  
Gemma Parra ◽  
Juan Villanueva ◽  
Carlos Garrido
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Antibiotic Use ◽  
The United States ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Unique Region ◽  
The Us ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
United States Mexico ◽  
Us Mexico Border

Background: The US–Mexico border represents a unique region of the country where antibiotics are more accessible and nonprescription treatment with antibiotics is deeply enculturated. Currently, both the United States and Mexico are experiencing widespread community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which may have implications for antibiotic seeking and use. The objective of this study was to examine antibiotic seeking behavior as it relates to COVID-19 in the border region relative to the greater US and Mexico populations. Methods: An interdisciplinary team at The University of Arizona developed a survey to assess knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about antibiotics along the US–Mexico border region (defined as 100 km from the border) and to compare findings from the border region to the broader US and Mexico populations. The team recruited survey participants through Amazon’s MTurk survey platform and through the distribution of recruitment flyers to community partners in Arizona and Mexico border regions from October 2020 to January 2021. Targeted recruitment was 750 through March 2021. We report here on findings from the first round of recruitment (n = 116). These participants were asked whether they had sought out antibiotics specifically as a treatment for COVID-19, as well as their general beliefs and behaviors on self-seeking antibiotics for illness. Results: As of January 24, 2021, we surveyed 116 participants: 82 (70.7%) from the United States and 34 (29.3%) from Mexico. Most participants (71.2%) were aged 25–44 years; 56.9% were male; and 50% reported Hispanic ethnicity. Of these, 13.8% lived within 100 km of the US–Mexico border. Overall, 21.6% of participants reported taking antibiotics to fight COVID-19–like illness. Of these participants, 28% obtained the antibiotics directly from a pharmacy, without a physician prescription, and 16% obtained them from an online vendor. Additionally, 33% of US respondents reported that they would be willing to travel to Mexico to obtain antibiotics if they were too difficult to obtain in the United States. Of these respondents, 55% said they would be willing to travel for >1 hour to obtain antibiotics. Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic will have widespread ramifications on antibiotic seeking behavior and could propagate antibiotic resistance. Targeted intervention strategies in the border region are necessary to mitigate the unique factors that contribute to antibiotic use in this area.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

Secular Trends in Physical Activity Among Immigrants in the United States, 2009–2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Myungjin Jung ◽  
Heontae Kim ◽  
Seungho Ryu ◽  
Minsoo Kang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
The United States ◽  
Secular Trends ◽  
Immigrant Population ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
The Us ◽  
Linear Trends

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate secular trends in domain-specific physical activity in the immigrant population in the US between 2009 and 2018. Method: A secondary data analysis from the 2009–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; a total of 7282 immigrants in the US were included in this analysis. All domain-specific physical activity was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. Tests for linear trends were performed to examine the trends of each physical activity time using orthogonal polynomial coefficients. Physical activity trends were assessed by the whole group and the various subgroups. Results: Total physical activity showed an upward linear trend in female (Ptrend = .04) and young adult (Ptrend = .009) immigrants. Work-related physical activity showed an upward linear trend in young adult immigrants (Ptrend = .01). Recreational physical activity showed an upward linear trend in young adult (Ptrend = .03) and Mexican American (Ptrend < .001) immigrants and in immigrants living in the US for 15–29 years (Ptrend = .02). In contrast, we observed downward linear trends in transit-related physical activity for immigrants across male (Ptrend = .04), middle-aged adult (Ptrend = .01), and non-Hispanic black groups (Ptrend = .004) and in immigrants living in the US for 15–29 years (Ptrend = .03). Conclusion: There were no significant linear trends in the 4 domains of physical activity in the overall US immigrant population; however, trends in domain-specific physical activity in the US immigrant population differed by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and length of residence. These findings may inform physical activity promotion strategies targeting US immigrant populations with diverse sociocultural backgrounds.

Using Electronic Step Counters to Increase Lifestyle Physical Activity: Colorado on the Move™

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly R. Wyatt ◽  
John C. Peters ◽  
George W. Reed ◽  
Gary K. Grunwald ◽  
Mary Barry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intervention Trial ◽  
Prevent Weight Gain ◽  
Good Target ◽  
The Us ◽  
Lifestyle Physical Activity ◽  
Behavioral Goal ◽  
Average Yearly Increase

Background:Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, yet few programs have been implemented on a widespread basis to deal with it. Colorado on the Move is a state-wide program with a specific quantifiable behavioral goal for increasing lifestyle physical activity (i.e. walking) and decreasing energy intake to prevent weight gain.Methods:A nonrandomized intervention trial designed to increase walking by 2000 steps/d using electronic step counters.Results:The intervention was effective in increasing average steps/d by at least 2000 over a 14-wk period.Conclusion:The Colorado on the Move intervention was effective in significantly increasing physical activity over a 14-wk period. Steps/d appears to be a good target for use in interventions to increase physical activity. Simply increasing physical activity in the population by 2000 steps/d could help in preventing the average yearly increase in body weight seen in the US population.

Adults Want to Play Too: Feasibility of an Adult Physical Activity Program Designed to Maximize Enjoyment

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 230-235
Author(s):  
Kent Upham ◽  
Brandon J. Auer ◽  
Christopher N. Sciamanna ◽  
Andrew J. Mowen ◽  
Joshua M. Smyth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vigorous Activity ◽  
Point Scale ◽  
Team Handball ◽  
Activity Program ◽  
Central Pennsylvania ◽  
Sports Programs ◽  
The Us ◽  
Ultimate Frisbee

Background: Few adults in the United States obtain sufficient physical activity (PA) despite knowledge of the associated health benefits. The current feasibility study examined the feasibility of a novel modified sports intervention designed to promote enjoyment and sustained PA in sedentary adults. Methods: The US adults (N = 22, mean age 39.2 y, male/female percentage 54.5/45.5) in Central Pennsylvania participated in the PlayFit sports program for 60-minute sessions, 2 to 3 times per week, over the course of 10 weeks and 24 game sessions; completing 198 person sessions collectively. Primary outcomes were PA (accelerometry) and intervention satisfaction. Results: Percentage of time in moderate to vigorous activity ranged from 35.0% (volleyball) to 91.2% (ultimate frisbee). Percentage of time spent in vigorous activity ranged from 0.0% (volleyball) to 29.5% (team handball). Satisfaction, based on a 10-point scale with 10 being the most satisfied, ranged from 7.7 (kickball) to 8.7 (floor hockey and soccer). On average, all sports were rated highly, with the majority rated >8.5 and one rated <8.0. Percentage of time spent in the moderate to vigorous range was lower in men than in women (73.2% vs 80.0%, P = .01), but did not differ by age or body mass index. Conclusions: PlayFit is a promising first step in exploring the potential of modified sports programs to enhance population PA levels.

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