Bodies, gender and daily life in Argentina during the pandemic

NEMESIA HIJÓS

Congreso; Virtual ISSA 2020; 2020

International Sociology of Sport Association

Latin America has been hit hard by the coronavirus. Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru are battling major outbreaks and figure amongst the top 10 countries with the highest numbers of confirmed cases. This global pandemic does not affect everyone equally. In Argentina, the #StayAtHome motto exposed the boundaries of people's living conditions. In this context, not all the bodies are the same and, as we present, not everyone has the opportunity to undergo the lockdown. For some, it is an overwhelming invitation that appears in the form of tips on social networks, under a performance command. Productivity and self-governance intersect with the fear of getting fat or "losing physical shape" as undesirable effects of quarantine. For others, this is not a possibility because confinement is experienced as a survival odyssey that involves complex domestic and housing arrangements. This presentation provides internal perspectives on the characteristics of the Argentinean reality and the challenges Latin American countries face in the context of this pandemic and related public health measures.