'I'd like to think I'm a good referee': discourses of ability and the subjectivity of the female soccer referee in Ontario (Canada). (2nd October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reid, Kamiel; Dallaire, Christine
• Is Part Of: Soccer and society. Volume 21:Number 7(2020)
• Page Start: 762
• Page End: 777
• Publication Date: 2020-10-02
• Subjects: Soccer -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Soccer -- Social aspects -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 306.483
• DOI: 10.1080/14660970.2020.1742705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-0970

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Female officials are side-lined within the soccer community through gendered relations of power, even in Canada, where women remain outnumbered as referees and in other leadership positions despite remarkable growth in the women's game since the 1980s and its heightened respect and standing. Drawing upon Foucault's concepts of discourse and subject, we explored the experience of female referees who had persevered in their role for 2 years or more within the male-dominated ranks of referees and had been subjected to, and the subject of, discourses of ability that constructed their (perceived lack of) skill and competence as unbiased arbitrators on the soccer field. In making sense of their referee subjectivity, they constructed stories of ability according to (1) first experiences, (2) skill recognition and validation, (3) being 'a good referee', and (4) proving oneself, while simultaneously engaging with discourses of gender, albeit sparingly and not always purposefully.