Women and Sport

Abstract

Chapter 5 will highlight the ways in which patriarchy (or structures of male domination), has constrained women in sport, and show how the struggle for gender equality has obscured concerns of ‘race’, social class and sexuality. Certain sports have featured prominently as sites of struggle over women’s rights to participate on their own terms. And whilst changing social ideas have led to greater sports access and freedom, women’s sport illustrates that certain expectations, assumptions and patterns of behaving still serve as ‘norms’ for female behaviour.

Sportswomen interviewed for this study will have their names printed in italics.