The effects of sport participation on gender relations: Case studies of female footballers in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

South Africa has progressive political policies concerning women with a high percentage of women in political positions, while simultaneously having some of the worst indicators of gender relations internationally, including high rates of rape and domestic violence. This article examines how participation in football can challenge hegemonic masculinity in South African society and sport through comprehensive case studies of women's football in the townships of Johannesburg and Cape Town. Internationally, sport has demonstrated a positive effect on improving gender relations. This includes opportunities for women to gain selfesteem and confidence, have constructive interactions with men, and challenge unequal gender norms. However, sport can contribute to the ostracisation of women and further entrench male hegemony. A mixed methods approach was used to collect case studies of 21 female footballers involving 81 interviews of players, household members, coaches, and administrators in addition to 33 focus groups with players and peers. Gender relations are discussed on three levels: macro -26 OgunniyiThe effects of sport participation access to national positions of authority and financial resources; meso -access to community facilities and school opportunities as well as changed perceptions and team acceptance of alternative sexualities; and micro -effects on interpersonal relationships, individual educational opportunities, and division of household labour.Past research provides an overview of these three levels relating to hegemonic masculinity within the general South African society and how sport can address these issues. More longitudinal research is needed to determine whether these changes are significant enough to make long-term differences and have an effect on gender relations in the larger South African society.

Politics of Gender (in)Equality Relating to Sport and Development Within a Sub-Saharan Context of Poverty

“…For young girls, it means access to play with boys and gain physical skills. For others, it means being elected into a leadership position within different spheres of influence, although such mainstreaming of gender, inevitably disadvantages females as it takes place in engendered spaces (Connell, 2009;Chawansky, 2011;Ogunniyi, 2013Ogunniyi, , 2015. The research findings reflect how females can mobilise support in the broader community by capitalising on her role as coach and "community builder" by teaching life lessons to children or providing emotional support.…”

“…Socio-cultural barriers remain a pervasive theme in preventing equitable gender participation in structured physical activities for Xhosa-speaking women in the Eastern Cape Province (Walter and Du Randt, 2011). Ogunniyi (2013Ogunniyi ( , 2015 conducted critical feminist research in the soccer domain and identified intersectional ideologies that inform socio-cultural and political constraints for women and girls despite sporadic agency and resistance.…”

“…In the aftermath of Apartheid, "race" became the dominant face of redress and the struggle for freedom from poverty as the agenda for social transformation. Women of Colour could hardly do battle at both fronts (socio-economic and politically) and thus opted for first being a black person and then considering the issue of being female (Pelak, 2002(Pelak, , 2009Walter and Du Randt, 2011;Ogunniyi, 2015). The public space constitutes a political forum for human rights in the same way as competitive sport occupies the public domain.…”

“…For instance, in the informal sport for development sector, women are granted the opportunity to find a social home, psycho-social support and experience enhanced status in their communities. Recognising them first and foremost as women, who not only take responsibility for their families, but also serve as role models on how to survive and earn respect in their community (as in the case of Nkosozana and Thoko) (Ogunniyi, 2015). Such recognition is liberating for women who have experienced extreme levels of abuse and marginality, but it also provides them with a purpose in life of servitude (Forde, 2008).…”

Alternation Book Series #5: From High-Risk Sports ti Sports as High Risk

“…Their participation in the study is in the context of their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic as professional players of that particular code of sport. Like most codes of sport (with the exception of netball) in which females participate in South Africa, there is a wide inequality gap between males and females (Ogunniyi 2015). A good example are the respondents in this study who were professional female players at national level in both soccer and rugby but they were not in possession of contracts.…”