Chancing your arm: the meaning of risk in rock climbing
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Date
2010-09-10
Authors
West, Amanda
Allin, Linda
Citation
West, A. and Allin, L. (2010) ‘Chancing your arm: the meaning of risk in rock climbing’, Sport in Society, 13(7–8), pp. 1234–1248. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/17430431003780245.
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between risk-taking and risk management by examining meanings attached to risk by a group of lifestyle sport participants. Drawing from in-depth interviews with male and female rock-climbers in the UK, it outlines the ways in which climbers' construction of risk and risk management were intimately related to broader discourses of risk and self-reflexivity in contemporary western society.Footnote 1 Analysing the data through reference to Douglas' work on risk and identityFootnote2 shows how climbers' discursive practices surrounding risk management are intrinsically related to their assumed identity as a competent, experienced and good climber. Consequently, this group of climbers established their credentials not by daring or risk-taking actions on the rock face but instead by demonstrating their competence in the way they managed and controlled risk.