From Straight to Gaie? Quebec Sportswomen's Discursive Constructions of Sexuality and Destabilization of the Linear Coming Out Process

Abstract

Sport is often perceived as affected by heteronormativity; however, it also seems to facilitate the expression of nonconventional sexualities. In this article, the authors explore the narratives of 14 young Francophone sportswomen from Montreal (Quebec, Canada) who identify themselves as “ gaie,” “lesbian,” “bisexual,” or refuse labels altogether. A feminist poststructuralist approach is used to examine their discursive constructions of gender, sexuality, and sport. More specifically, the article aims to investigate the coming out process and the expression of nonconventional sexualities in sport. In line with queer theory, the findings challenge the heterosexual/homosexual binary, the idea of a fixed sexuality, and the linearity of the coming out process. The results also suggest that the coming out process and the expression of nonnormative sexualities may be influenced by sport.

Sport as Context for the Development of Women’s Same-Sex Relationships

“…Similar to the findings of a few other scholars (Mennesson & Clement, 2003;Ravel & Rail, 2008;Shire et al, 2000), I found that the presence of lesbians in sport, and acceptance of same-sex relationships in sport settings, are conducive to the development of women's same-sex attractions and relationships. The presence of lesbian/ bisexual women in sport was nurturing to the development of the participants' samesex attractions/relationships because it generated awareness of the possibility of samesex relationships, reduced homophobia, and created an opportunity to meet same-sex partners (Mennesson & Clement, 2003;Ravel & Rail, 2008;Shire et al, 2000).…”

“…Regarding the research on the ways sport may nurture women's same-sex relationships, some of the studies are focused on a single team or sport (Mennesson & Clement, 2003;Shire et al, 2000). The other studies focus on more than one team and sport, but are not designed to directly spotlight how sport affects the development of same-sex relationships: Rather, the authors of these studies discuss a few findings related to this theme that emerge from studies with a broader focus (Cahn, 1993(Cahn, , 1994Ravel & Rail, 2008). A more pointed approach may be fruitful.…”

“…Generally speaking, this research demonstrates that homophobia is prevalent in women's sport (e.g., Caudwell, 1999;Eng, 2008;Kauer & Krane, 2006). Scholars have explained this prevalence in the following manner: (a) Because many sports are associated with masculinity, many women athletes are perceived as masculine; (b) lesbianism is also associated with masculinity (e.g., Caudwell, 1999;Kauer & Krane, 2006;Mennesson & Clement, 2003); and (c) disapproval of women athletes' challenge to gender ideals is often met with labeling athletes as lesbian and using Given that some sport is perceived as a component of lesbian subculture, it is not surprising that some women use sport as a space to explore and affirm sexual minority identities (Cahn, 1993(Cahn, , 1994Kivel & Kleiber, 2000;Ravel & Rail, 2008;Riemer, 1997;Shire et al, 2000). As Kivel and Kleiber (2000) explain in regard to their lesbian interviewees:…”

Sport and Sexuality: Athletic Participation by Sexual Minority and Sexual Majority Adolescents in the U.S.

“…basketball, softball, soccer, ice hockey, wrestling), often have been seen as particularly attractive to lesbians (Ravel and Rail 2008). Following this line of thought, we should expect fewer homosexual males to play sports, especially contact ones, while lesbians should be overrepresented in sports, especially those for which success requires the adoption of a deportment that is more closely aligned with hegemonic masculinity.…”

“…Part of the association between sport and lesbianism may stem from the relatively limited options, in place until late in the 20th Century, for women to socialize with other women. Sexsegregated sports provided a more publicly-accepted venue for women to interact with other women (Cahn 1994;Ravel and Rail 2008). In addition, compared to gay men, there are relatively more lesbians who have revealed their sexuality during their playing careers.…”