German-Brazilian Women in Turnen at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century

• Published in: International journal of the history of sport 2022-04, Vol.39 (5), p.536-556
• Main Authors: Assmann, Alice Beatriz, da Silva, Carolina Fernandes, Mazo, Janice Zarpellon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 20th century; Annual reports; Coercion; Descendants; Gymnastics; history; Immigrants; interdependence; Masculinity; Photography; Social roles; Stabilization; Turnen; Women
• ISSN: 0952-3367; 1743-9035
• DOI: 10.1080/09523367.2022.2076672

This study aims to determine how the participation of German-Brazilian women in Turnen in Rio Grande do Sul figured at the beginning of the twentieth century. Considering the period of this research and the phenomenon studied, the documentary corpus favours printed documents such as the annual reports of gymnastics societies and commemorative books and images, namely photographs, found in printed documents. Turnen is a distinctly Germanic cultural practice developed in Brazilin places inhabited by German immigrants and their descendants. The insertion by German-Brazilian women into Turnen and their practice of it resulted from compensatory stabilization methods developed through practices and representations. It established a close relationship between masculinity and nationality marked in the practitioner's physique. As German-Brazilian women entered the practice of Turnen, they gained new spaces outside their homes and, with the expanded limits, there was also the self-coercion of behaviour and feelings. Behavioural norms became more tolerant as long as they did not affect the previously conditioned system and social roles.