Gendered performances and identity construction among UK female soccer players and netballers: a comparative study. Issue 7 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Devonport, Tracey J.; Russell, Kate; Leflay, Kath; Conway, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Sport in society. Volume 22:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 1131
• Page End: 1147
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Body image -- body performance -- masculine -- feminine -- transiency; Sports -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 306.48305
• DOI: 10.1080/17430437.2018.1504773
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-0437

Abstract

Abstract: This paper examines the gendered performances and identity construction of UK female University soccer players and netballers ( n = 31). Focus group interviews explored their sporting experiences with reference to body perceptions, and perceptions of their sporting bodies outside sporting contexts. Three themes resulted from data analysis, these being; (1) UK culture, body performances and femininity, (2) sporting culture, body performances and femininity and (3) transiency of body satisfaction across sport and non-sport contexts. Findings suggest that sport may not always provide an opportunity to challenge and resist dominant discourses. In both netball and soccer, a range of surveillance and management practices were used that served to perpetuate the value of a 'feminine' and assumed heterosexual body, and legitimize their sport participation through an emphasis on a hyper-femininity. The influence of sport subcultures on gendered performances and identity construction, along with implications for marketing sports participation to women are discussed.