Sociology community report 3A - world fitness cartel-2
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School
Wellington High School, Wellington**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
ENGLISH 314
Subject
Sociology
Date
Jan 13, 2025
Pages
9
Uploaded by AdmiralKingfisherPerson892
Sociology community report 3A - world fitness cartel By Jennifer Le○Nature and classification of community groupWorld fitness cartel is a group of individuals who train muay thai, boxing or jiu jitsu. The founder of world fitness cartel Dwayne Harris' purpose was to “remove the fear and stigma that prevents people from training martial arts”.World fitness cartel was established in 2015 and is located at World fitness cartel began with just 40 members and has now expanded to thousands of individuals especially those who graduate from the bootcamp and still attend the class. World fitness cartel offers this program for 3-7 year olds, 8-12 year olds, 13-16 and adult programs. ○Outline how the group can be classified as a communityThe concept of community refers to people who share social relationships through being geographically close to each other and/or being in regular contact with each other and through having similarities such as mutual and/or shared ideology.World fitness cartel contains a group of people around the south east suburbs who train muay thai, boxing and wrestling. Individuals who train at world fitness cartel keep in regular contact by training at a chosen class by participating in partner work pad holding, grappling and gym training. Above all, members of the world fitness cartel have a shared interest in martial arts and most members train 2-3 times a week. However, those who are in a fight team train everyday. Members are enthusiastic and those who perform at a high level may travel together in groups to Thailand to enhance their training.●Apply Tonnies theory to the community German sociologists and philosopher Ferdiand Tonnies, Tonnies explain the impact of industrialization on the experience of “community”. Tonnies describes the alteration in the community that reshaped “gemeinschaft” communities into “gesellschaft”. Gemeinschaft (community) was used to describe a social group of people in which people are closely tied to kinship (family) and friends. A gemeinschaft community is typically culturally homogeneous. It is a cohesive, close and long lasting relationship. World fitness cartel shares some gemeinschaft attributes. Members share this as they all train at one gym and there is only one location. Therefore they are all connected and they train at their own level. Hence, there are different gradings and levels at world fitness cartel, which enables a stronger sense of community, connection and belonging. Many friendships have been formed at the gym. According to Michael “I love that we all have a love for muay thai” who trains there.
The term “gesellschaft” translates to society to describe the informal and impersonal relationships that occur within cities. Members of the world fitness cartel are across the south east suburbs. Particularly those who live near Ferntree gully. Gesellschaft quality is that people go to the gym to train and be informed about martial arts. Despite their individual lifestyles. Taylor commented that “we are so close to each other and I love the friendships that I've made”. ○Explain how a factor has assisted group members to feel includedThe concept of “inclusion” relates to how community members are made to feel a part of the group. The concept of “inclusion” relates to how community members are made to feel a part of the group. It occurs when a group or person is integrated and helped to feel that they belong. A factor is feminism such as the changing attitudes of women in sport thus enabling individuals to feel included such as empowering females to participate in sports that are more “male dominated”.Therefore the encouragement of females to participate in a sports such as boxing or wrestling can empower females to be included. Taylor states “it was incredibly nerve wracking walking into a fighting gym, however I gained so much confidence and realised how many other girls were in the same boat”. The community has displayed inclusion in a variety of ways as it is offered to everyone regardless of age. In their website it states that “no matter what fitness level you are at, or your fitness and martial arts goals are, we have programs that suit everyone”therefore inclusion is displayed.Taylor trained in the 6 week fight camp and competed as said “my hard work paid off and I’m so grateful I'm able to train with the best coaches and all my friends”. This allowed Taylor to have a strong sense of belonging as she is reminded that she has a strong social support behind her, before her fight.
exclusion in relation to world fitness cartelExclusion relates to how people can be isolated from the community. It can be unintentional or intentional. It can cause individuals to feel alienated and isolated from a community. It helps to define a community by who is not included. It can result in individuals feeling angry, resentful, frustrated and powerless. It can also lead to conflict or violence between different community groups. A factor that increases feelings of exclusion is injury. Fighters and those who train combat sports are more prone to injuries. Such as chronic back pain, accidents during padholding, black eye etc. recovery may take weeks and months as well as surgery. Therefore, individuals feel a strong sense of exclusion as they cannot train at the gym with their friends and coaches. Michael states that “my back pain was killing me, I missed my friends that trained at the gym while I was stuck home”. ●Analyse how a form of Information and Communications Technology Ict refers to equipment and machinery that is used to store and/ or distribute information. For ex computer, iphone and ipad. Ict has impacted upon the way people communicate and maintain connections with each other and has been a key enabler in allowing for convenience within the world fitness cartel. An example of ICT employed by the world fitness cartel is the use of Instagram and Facebook. Both of these social media pages advertise the membership exclusive opportunities available to those, consequently attracting more individuals to attend world fitness cartel. For instance, Taylor said she joined the world fitness cartel after seeing their instagram page and being intrigued by their exclusive membership options. This usage of ICT is beneficial as more people joining the gym allows members to form new relationships and increases the chances of finding like minded people. However, the large number of members at the gym also means that the gym community at world fitness cartel will not be as close-knit, consequently diminishing relationships. Analyse how an economic change has influenced the community In relation to the world fitness cartel there have been many economic changes. Economic changes that relate to the world fitness cartel include membership, purchase of new equipment, uniform and fundraising and membership. Taylor believed that the membership was “a reasonable price considering the level of quality and coaching provided here at world fitness cartel” however, the membership had to increase during lockdown in order to maintain a steady profit. Also, had to increase gym memberships to ensure the gym will not be closed down due to the lockterm lockdown in Victoria. According to Taylor again “I
Actually had to take a break from the gym because I wasn’t going to class often and I realised that the membership has increased”. However, ‘I joined back to have some physical health and wellbeing into my life”. Despite the economic changes and challenges such as increased membership, many members still took part in the online martial arts session that occurred whilst home. How a social change has influenced the communitySocial change can include changing gender roles, changing social attitudes, popular opinion and attitude of people outside and within the community. A social change that occurred in the world fitness cartel is multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is a government policy that acknowledges the challenges migrants face and enables them to freely practise their cultural heritage within Australian society. The multicultural policy ultimately celebrates diversity within Australia and responds to the needs of culturally diverse individuals.A wide range of ethnic groups join the world fitness cartel each year. The idea of multiculturalism is further enforced as individuals recognize Muay thai also known as the art of 8 limbs as a combat sport that originated from Thailand. Thus people can travel to Thailand by train at the homeland of the sport. However, before the social change of multiculturalism many people have never thought about travelling to Thailand in general or even for a holiday or to train muay thai. Therefore before joining the gym many individuals had no interest in visiting a country such as Thailand. However, after joining a gym such as world fitness cartel this inspired many to diversity. This social change is linked to positive experiences in the community as it is linked to inclusion as people often have an interest in Thailand through the use of muay thai. ○Analyse how a political change has influenced the communityPolitical change refers to the function of internal and external politics within the community of the world fitness cartel. Political changes that may occur include adjustments to laws and legislations, government grants that communities receive and council by law. A political factor that affected the world fitness cartel was the lockdowns. The first lockdown began on 31st march 2020. The last lockdown occurred from 5th August 2021 to October 21st 2021. The experience before covid lockdown everyone trained at world fitness cartel. It was in person and it was a group class. Individuals were able to train inside a ring, use the heavy bags, utilisation of focus mitts and thai pads were available. People were also able to be corrected on their form and technique in person through a coach. The lockdowns led to a negative experience. Although, individuals were able to take classes online. It was not the same experience as they were not on a proper floor mat and couldn’t participate in any partner drills and many individuals did not have a boxing bag to use at home. According to Taylor “it just wasn’t the same but I still went to online classes”. Which shows a form of exclusion as they are not at the gym.
Analyse how two geographic characteristics have influenced the communityOne geographical characteristic that influences a sense of community at world fitness cartel is its location being 30km outside of Melbourne CBD in Ferntree Gully. Most people who regularly attend this gym live in or around the Ferntree Gully area. This provides gym regulars an opportunity to socialise and meet outside of their training sessions. Taylor said that living in Ferntree Gully allowed her to “strengthen relationships with her gym friends” as she was able to meet them regularly outside of the gym despite their busy work lives.A second geographical characteristic that influences a sense of community at the world fitness cartel is its facilities. The gym has multiple cardio machines next to each other, allowing people to work out with their friends. Weight training areas also have multiple dumbbells, allowing individuals to train at the same time as their friends, providing them with motivation to push themselves harder. For instance, Taylor said running on the treadmill at the same time as her friends “encourages [her] to increase [her] fitness goals”. ○Explain two different perspectives on the sense of community○The sense of community primarily focuses on the experience of community. It involves members feeling if they feel included or excluded in the community referring to the world fitness cartel. It involves members feeling as though they have a sense of belonging and they are all connected to each other as their needs and wants are met through the gym. Taylor perspective Taylor previously expressed the fact she felt primarily a part of the community and further expanded on. Taylor states that “joining world fitness cartel was life altering” as Taylor was struggling with her own personal issues in life and joining the gym she able to turn her life around by using her illness, muay thai gave me a positive outlet from my struggles as it “gave me a sense of purpose and helped me regain control in my life”. This increases Taylor's sense of belonging as she felt instantly welcomed into the community and was able to meet many new people from a wide range of age groups, ethnicities and develop new friendships. Taylor has been a part of World Fitness Cartel since 2021 and trains 3 times a week times and is aiming for a spot in the fight team. The goal is to learn martial arts and improve their fitness. Michael s perspective’
Michael proudly states that he is “very fortunate to join a gym and be surrounded by like minded people and people who train professionally”. Michael is a part of the fight team at World fitness cartel and this increases his sense of belonging as he specifically trains muay thai everyday in a high level environment with other members to aim to compete muay thai at a professional level. This increases his sense of belonging as “I'm surrounded by people who want the same goal, which makes me work harder in the gym”. Michael has been a part of the world fitness cartel since 2015 and has no interest in moving to another gym. This increases sense of belonging as he is surrounded by individuals who have the same goal and purpose. Which is to compete Muay thai at competitions and come home with a win. ComparisonBoth individuals had a positive experience that is shared by and felt by the group as a whole as a community together and where people work towards a common goal. They both have different perspectives on how the world fitness cartel increased their sense of belonging. Taylor felt engaged in the community as she was able to participate in an activity that she enjoyed and she was able to meet new people. On the other hand, Michael’s sense of belonging as he is surrounded by people who want the same goal which is to compete Muay Thai at an advanced level. ○Analyse the interplay between two or more influences on the experiences There is an interplay between proximity and economics. Individuals may be drawn to the world fitness cartel as it provides a 4 week program for absolute beginners. This program allows newcomers at the gym to feel welcomed and supported in their health and fitness journey. However, it is located in Ferntree gully, approximately 30 km outside of Melbourne’s CBD. Those who do not live in close proximity to the gym may have limited options to travel there due to the high costs associated with petrol and their individual financial circumstances. Consequently, the experience of community is shaped by restricting individuals from accessing a gym of their liking due to the presence of economic factors. For instance, Jason said he was only able to attend world fitness cartel once a week due to him being a university student in the CBD who was unable to afford the petrol costs. During the week Jason attends a gym near his apartment to save money. However, he emphasised how when attending another gym he did not “feel and experience the same sense of community and belonging”. Ethical methodologyEthics refer to moral dilemmas that researchers face when conducting and reporting on their research. The Australian sociological association has issued ethical methodology guidelines that all sociologists and students are expected to follow including informed consent, voluntary participation, privacy and confidentiality of data. The purpose of ethical methodology is to ensure participants are treated with respect, putting methods to prevent
harm to participants, ensuring participants are aware of their rights, including voluntary participation and withdrawal rights, reports are reported honestly to ensure no harm is caused to participants. Voluntary participationRefers to willing involvement of research participants and the awareness of their right to withdraw at any time without having a reason to give. Before the interview participants were informed on what the task entailed, the types of questions they would be asked and any possible implications. I also informed my participants that they had the option to withdraw from the interview process at any point without any consequences. Informed consentInformed consent is a formal agreement of an individual to participate in a research project. This occurs if a person has been informed of what participation involves and how the research will be conducted and how research will be analysed. A consent form was sent to participants to allow members to understand their rights. I also asked participants to provide formal permission for me to record their answers.Privacy Privacy refers to disguising personal identities in written and oral presentations, in order to protect the identity of participants. I employed privacy by adopting fake names to disguise the true identity of my participants. I also ensured to keep all recorded answers confidential and private and destroy them as soon as my research study has been completed.Confidentiality of dataConfidentiality of data about his or her private information will not be shared without his or her consent. Consent formMy name is Jennifer Le and I am a vce sociology student at Haileybury college. I am completing research into a specific community group and I was interested in the World fitness cartel. If you agree to participate, it will involve completing an interview, filling out a questionnaire that would take 30 minutes of your time. There are no risks involved in the participation of the study. You are under no obligation to participate, and you may withdraw from the study at any time. No personal identifying information will be collected about you. Your involvement will be confidential. Any information gathered (eg.., interview notes and photos) will be kept securely and shredded at the end of the school year.If you have any questions or concerns about the research, please feel free to contact my teacher, Madeleine Olding, madeleine.olding@haileybury.com.auif you are interested in the results of my research, I am happy to provide you with a copy or summary of my work.
I agree to take in this research, which has been explained to me. I have been given the opportunity to ask questions about the research. I understand that my identity and any information that I provide will be treated confidentiality. I also understand that my participation is voluntary and that I may withdraw from the study at any time.__michael__participants signature, name and date__Taylor__participants signature, name and date]’’]__Jason__participants signature, name and dateInterview notes Tonnie’s theory- Michael- “I love that we all have a love for Muay Thai - Taylor- “We are so close to to each other and I love the friendships that I’ve made”Inclusion- Taylor - “It was so incredibly nerve wracking walking into a fight gym, however I gained so much confidence and realised how many other girls were in the same boat”- “My hard work paid off and I’m so grateful I’m able to train with the best coaches and all my friends”Exclusion - Michael - “My back pain was killing me, I missed my friends that trained at the gym while I was stuck home”Economic - Taylor - “Reasonable price considering the level of quality and coaching at world fitness cartel - “I actually had to take a break from the gym because I wasn’t going to class often and I realised that the membership has increased”- “I joined back to have some physical health and well-being into my life”Political - Taylor
- “It just wasn’t the same but I still went to online classes”Geographical characteristics - Taylor - “Strengthen relationships with her gym friends”- “Encourages her to increase her fitness goals”Perspectives - Taylor- “Joining world fitness cartel was life altering”- “Gave me a sense of purpose and helped me to regain control in my life”Michael perspective - Michael - “Very fortunate to join a gym and be surrounded by like minded people and people who train professionally” - “I’m surrounded by people who want the same goal, which makes me work harderInterplay - Jason- “Feel and experience the same sense of community and belonging”Bibliography https://worldfitnesscartel.com.au/