Women and competitive sport: perceived barriers to equality

Abstract

Modern sport was conceived by and for men. It has been a forbidden territory for women, who have been perceived as outsiders, especially those who choose to practice competitive sport. Despite the social advances that have taken place, women's sport continues to be structurally and symbolically more precarious. The aim of this study is to analyze the barriers that women perceive to continue practicing competitive sport. The methodology is qualitative. Forty-five women residing in Spain participated in the study. Five focus groups were formed according to the sport practiced: indoor soccer, volleyball, handball, swimming, athletics and fencing. The participants' discourse points to the existence of multiple barriers due to the fact of being a woman, such as the differentiated perception of the changes that occur in adolescence, the reconciliation with studies, the difficulties in making a living from sport in the long term and the work-life balance. At the same time, they identify others that may also affect men, such as the sacrifice involved in competition, injuries and competitive pressure. The results suggest that ensuring access to sport does not guarantee equal and barrier-free practice conditions.