Operationalization of intersectionality in physical activity and sport research: A systematic scoping review

Abstract

Participation in and opportunities for physical activity (PA) and sports (PA inclusively hereafter) are known to vary across individuals with different social positions. Intersectionality theory may help us to better understand the complex processes of multiple interlocking systems of oppression and privilege shaped by intersections of individuals’ social categories. The objectives of this systematic scoping review were (1) to summarize the findings of articles examining PA claimed operationalization of intersectionality and (2) to identify the scope and gaps pertaining to the operationalization of intersectionality in PA research. A search was conducted in September 2019 in seven electronic databases (e.g., SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science) for relevant research articles written in English. Key search terms included “intersectionality” AND “physical activity” OR “sport”. Database searches, data screening and extraction, and narrative synthesis were conducted between September 2019 and May 2020. Of 16564 articles identified, 45 articles were included in this review. The majority of included articles used qualitative methods (n = 41), with two quantitative and two mixed-methods articles. The most frequently observed intersectional social position was sex/gender + race/ethnicity (n = 11), followed by sex/gender + race/ethnicity + sexuality (n = 6) and sex/gender + race/ethnicity + religion (n = 6). Most qualitative studies (n = 38) explicitly claimed operationalization of intersectionality as a key theoretical framework, and over half of these studies (n = 27) implicitly used intra-categorical intersectionality. Two quantitative studies were identified which examined a number of intersections simultaneously using inter-categorical intersectionality. Complex processes of individual and social-structural level factors that drive inequalities in PA opportunities and participation could be better elucidated with the operationalization of intersectionality theory. Intersectionality theory may serve as a useful framework in both qualitative and quantitative investigations. Advancement in quantitative intersectionality is critical in order to produce knowledge that could inform more inclusive PA promotion efforts.

Report card grades on physical activity for children and adolescents from 18 Asian countries: Patterns, trends, gaps, and future recommendations

“…In addition to 2018 India's Report Card, 16 a few recent studies have found that intersectionality is a useful framework in investigating disparities and inequalities beyond sex/gender in behavior research. 46 , 47 , 48 …”

The Operationalizing Intersectionality Framework

“…• A dearth of research on women and girls who face multiple systems of oppression in accessing, participating in, or leading sport (Lim et al, 2021); • Consistent application of a "women-first" model of equity wherein White, nondisabled, heterosexual, cis-women are prioritized as equity-deserving in sport "before" equity for "other" identity groups (e.g., people who are racialized, Indigenous, two-spirit, trans and/or nonbinary, disabled) can be considered; and • A misuse of "gender" which tends to exclude nonbinary and transgenders and assumes homogeneity of nonbinary and transexperiences.…”

“…According to Lim et al (2021), intersectionality has mainly been mobilized in sport research to qualitatively investigate varying axes of marginalization beyond sex/gender, with a special focus on race and ethnicity in the context of sport participation. This literature corpus examined how varying intersections of social categories impacted individuals' opportunities to participate in sport.…”

“…Some researchers, like Gearity and Henderson Metzger (2017), demonstrate how the intersectionality of multiple factors of marginalization-such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religion-increases microaggressions in the coach-athlete relationship. All examined studies illustrate how intersectionality theory may enable us to further understand the complex phenomenon of multiple interlocking systems of oppression and privilege shaped by intersections of individuals' social positionalities (Lim et al, 2021). Intersectionality teaches us that oppression is seldom the result of only one system of oppression and in order to understand the complexity of lived experiences, we need to focus on how axes work together and influence each other (Hill Collins & Bilge, 2016, p. 2).…”

Kinesiology, Physical Activity, Physical Education, and Sports through an Equity/Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Lens: A Scoping Review

“…Studies focusing on physical activity discuss equity and equality, in the context of the EDI groups of gender [42], race [122][123][124][125], and LGBTQ2S+ [126], including through an intersectionality lens [127][128][129][130] of these three identities [53]. The same is true for the terms diversity and inclusion [126], as well as for Indigenous peoples [62].…”