It's not like she's from another planet
Undoing gender/redoing policy in mixed football
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2378627 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Laura Hills (0000-0003-3689-0386, Brunel University, UK, corresponding author), Alison Maitland (0000-0002-2279-4994, Lane4 Management Group Ltd, UK), Amanda Croston (Brunel University, UK), Sara Horne (0000-0002-3852-4083, Brunel University, UK) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 658-676 |
| Publication date | 2021-08-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Review for the Sociology of Sport (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1012-6902 • E-ISSN: 1461-7218 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1012690220934753 |
| OpenAlex | W3034670711 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 28 |
Competitive sport is often a gender-segregated activity underpinned by binary thinking that associates sporting talent with masculinity. In response to political, internal and grassroots activism, the English Football Association conducted a series of pilots to ascertain whether they should raise the age limit for competitive mixed football from Under-11 to Under-14. This paper presents an analysis of these trials using the concepts of accountability, doing and undoing gender to explore participants' support for policy change, and the ways that normative notions of gender were negotiated, reproduced and disrupted during the trials. Typical rationale for segregating sports which constitute gender accountability frameworks such as physical differences between boys and girls, perceived differences in ability, and concerns about risk of injury for girls were undone as girls demonstrated they could make the team, enjoy the experience and develop their skills in a safe environment. Key arguments in favour of mixed football included the benefit to female players, the importance of friendships between boys and girls, and the similarities in boys' and girls' footballing skills. Support for mixed football and policy change reflected participants' expectations that girls should be assessed on their capacity to play football and 'fit in' rather than expectations of gender difference. This article contributes to the limited research on mixed competitive youth sport and provides unique insights into gender-based policy change
Accountability · Football · Grassroots · Masculinity · Normative · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Undoing · Gender Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sport Psychology and Performance · Sports, Gender, and Society
Equalizing or Reinforcing? The Impact of Organized Sports Club Membership on Gender Role Attitudes
The Influence of Gender Dynamics on Women’s Experiences in Martial Arts
Finally … the team! Navigating obstacles in girls’ access to football
Gendered grouping practices in secondary physical education in England
Le hockey pour tous, mais pas pour toutes? Regard croisé sur la médiatisation du racisme et du sexisme au hockey
Sport, Play and Undoing Gender
Between the flags
Women in sport – gender relations and future perspectives1
I'm into high heels and make up but I still love football’
Why can't girls play football?’ Gender dynamics and the playground
Accountability in action
Playing the field(s)
I Used to Think Women Were Weak”
Leveling the Playing Field? Perspectives and Observations of Coed Intramural Flag Football Modifications
Gender Egalitarianism in Coed Sport
Doing Gender
Athletes in the Pool, Girls and Boys on Deck
I Demand More of People
Accountable Conduct
From Doing To Undoing
Accounting for Doing Gender
Undoing Gender
Same Sport, Different Gender
Resistance/Transformation of the Oppositional Binary
Leveling the Playing Field
| Citations per year | 2.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2026 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |