ANALYSIS OF BODY MYTH IN #GYMTOK CONTENT ON TIKTOK USING ROLAND BARTHES THEORY

Abstract

The #GymTok phenomenon on TikTok is a platform not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but also shapes a myth about the “ideal body” of women through standardized fitness content. This research aims to identify denotative and connotative meanings found in #GymTok content and analyze them to a myth about the ideal body using Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory. The method used is a qualitative approach with semiotic analysis of 10 most popular TikTok #GymTok videos which have approximately 5000 like and uploaded between January to May 2025. This research focuses on Roland Barthes’ three layers of meanings, there are denotative (visual/textual signs), connotation (the deeper meaning), and myth (how people see a certain thing, ideas, or even behaviours as a common sense which repeated frequently and accepted in society). The results of this research show that the content of #GymTok is dominated by lower-body workout routines such as squats and hip thrusts which related to the myth of the ideal body of women (having a perfect shape of glutes and slim body). In conclusion, #GymTok acts as a tool for the construction of an ideal body myth which is normalized by the society.