The Ponytail: Icon, Movement, and the Modern (Sports)Woman

The book explores the ponytail as a cultural phenomenon, arguing that it is imbued with codes, narratives, and myths that allow wearers to understand, maneuver, and criticize social gender relations in personal ways. It creates a multidimensional method to show how icons are imitated and used, highlighting the performativity of social movements in the sport.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This open-access book delves into the cultural sociology of materiality to examine the distinctive feature of female athletes: the ponytail. Through a comprehensive analysis of news articles covering ponytails in sports and society, Broch uncovers the hairstyle's polyvocality and posits that it constitutes a widespread social phenomenon. By diverging from the traditional cultural studies approach, Broch emphasizes how hair is laden with codes, narratives, and myths that enable its wearers to interpret, navigate, and critique social gender relations in profoundly personal ways. Employing a multifaceted framework that incorporates various theories about hair, bodies, myths, and icons, he demonstrates how icons are replicated and utilized. As women navigate their everyday lives, health concerns, and gendered expectations, the ponytail materializes their dynamic negotiation of cultural and social environments. Sporting a ponytail—an embodiment of movement itself—is imbued with a performativity of social movements: a cultural kinetics that remains inherently political.

Introduction:
The ponytail has become a prominent symbol of female athletes, representing their strength, athleticism, and professionalism. However, beyond its aesthetic appeal, the ponytail holds a deeper significance as a cultural phenomenon. This open-access book aims to explore the multifaceted nature of the ponytail, examining its social, cultural, and material dimensions.
Cultural Sociology of Materiality:
The book adopts a cultural sociology of materiality to delve into the significance of the ponytail. By studying a wealth of news articles about ponytails in sports and society, Broch uncovers the hairstyle's polyvocality and argues that it is a total social phenomenon. Hair, as a material object, is imbued with codes, narratives, and myths that shape its meaning and usage. Broch separates his approach from the cultural studies tradition to highlight how hair is not just a superficial accessory but a powerful tool for understanding and critiquing social gender relations.
Polyvocality of the Ponytail:
Broch explores the diverse ways in which the ponytail is interpreted and used by athletes and non-athletes alike. He reveals how the ponytail can be seen as a symbol of empowerment, resilience, and femininity, as well as a tool for self-expression and individuality. The hairstyle's versatility allows wearers to adapt it to their personal styles, cultural backgrounds, and sporting contexts. Broch argues that the ponytail is not just a hairstyle but a cultural icon that carries significant meaning and symbolism.
Hair as a Cultural Signifier:
Broch delves into the cultural significance of hair, examining how it is intertwined with bodies, myths, and icons. He explores how hair is used to construct and maintain social identities, as well as how it can be manipulated and transformed to convey different messages. Broch argues that hair is a powerful tool for expressing cultural identity and heritage, and how it can be used to challenge dominant narratives and ideologies.
The Ponytail as a Performative of Social Movements:
The ponytail not only represents the physicality of female athletes but also their performativity of social movements. Broch argues that the hairstyle is filled with a performativity of social movements, a cultural kinetics that is never apolitical. The ponytail becomes a symbol of resistance, activism, and social change, as athletes use it to express their political beliefs, support social causes, and challenge gender norms.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this open-access book offers a comprehensive exploration of the ponytail, examining its social, cultural, and material dimensions. By adopting a cultural sociology of materiality, Broch highlights how hair is imbued with codes, narratives, and myths that allow its wearers to understand, maneuver, and critique social gender relations in deeply personal ways. The ponytail materializes the dynamic maneuvering of women as they navigate their practical lives, health issues, and gendered expectations. Sporting a ponytail is not just a hairstyle but a performative of social movements, a cultural kinetics that remains inherently political.

Weight: 313g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031207822
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023