Investigating a Coed Sport’s Ability to Encourage Inclusion and Equality

Abstract

The genuine sport of quidditch, based off the Harry Potter franchise, offers an alternative to traditional sport that has grown immensely in terms of popularity and participation. Due to the scarcity of research on coed sports, and the innovative nature of quidditch, the purpose of this research was to use an exploratory qualitative approach to examine impact of the sport on its participants, and to determine how its structure influenced participants' attitudes toward the opposite gender. Findings revealed the coed structure of the sport led to a positive coed experience for women and men, which in turn developed an increased desire for inclusivity and equality. In addition, both genders reported stereotype reduction due to participation in the sport, and women also reported feeling increased levels of self-confidence and pride. Despite these shifts in attitude, underlying prejudice toward women athletes was still apparent among men who participated in the sport.

‘These chicks go just as hard as us!’ (Un)doing gender in a Dutch CrossFit gym

“…Thus, the prescribed weight is a function of gendered construction regarding strength and ability. This corresponds with the taken-for-granted idea that by nature men are stronger than women (Kavoura et al, 2015) and the notion that women need a regulated advantage in mixed sport (Cohen et al, 2014). However, the interviewed CrossFitters said this differentiation makes the sport equal and they find it fair and logical.…”

Specific Detriment: Barriers and Opportunities for Non-Binary Inclusive Sports in Scotland

“…It remains to be seen to what extent these efforts and the rule that embodies them facilitate inclusivity in practice including at higher level competitions, if and when quidditch becomes more popular and competitive. Indeed, there is some evidence that while participation in muggle quidditch can foster gender stereotype reduction among those who participate in the sport and increase their desire for gender equality and inclusivity, underlying prejudices about women athletes are nonetheless expressed by men who take part in quidditch (Cohen et al, 2014).…”

‘It’s not like she’s from another planet’: Undoing gender/redoing policy in mixed football

“…Quidditch is an example of a recently developed sport which is designed to be mixed without adaptions, although there is a requirement that the seven-member squad has no more than four players who identify as the same gender. 2 Using a feminist approach to intergroup contact theory, Cohen et al (2014) identified that gender equity was facilitated by having explicit policies and rules that did not differentiate between males and females to compensate for assumed gender differences in ability. Young people and adults involved in quidditch felt that participation in the sport had reduced gender stereotyping, increased their appreciation of the skills and qualities of their differently gendered teammates and strengthened their valuing of equality.…”