The women inclusion on rugby: perceptions of Brazilian national team players

Abstract

Women participation in sport is historically permeated by manifestations of discrimination, especially in male preserve practices. This study aimed to investigate and describe the processes of entry and performance of women athletes in rugby, as well as socio-cultural components of this field in relation to gender differences from the perspective of Brazilian women national senior team players. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with five athletes were performed and data analyzed based on the Grounded Theory method. Results: It was found that there are social barriers for women practice in rugby. By the other hand, better opportunities for the development of an athletic career are more available than in the past. Besides that, it has been perceived that the women players need to constantly prove that they can play hard to legitimize their athletic skills among men players. Conclusions: Even if the women participation in rugby is in a changing process of acceptance, barriers still need to be broken for a full social legitimation of these players' practice.

‘Male, violent and dangerous’: The gender prejudices in rugby from the perception of current and former athletes of the Brazil women's rugby 7's national team

“…This is corroborated by Oliveira et al (2019), Tovia (2014) Joncheray and Tlili (2013), Fallon (2010) and Almeida (2008), who affirm that while women are expected not to appear strong and large, people usually think that only large and overweight people practice the sport, characterizing yet another stereotype of athletes in the sport. Almeida (2008: 89) reiterates this point of view when stating that in Brazil:The players bodies when enter at the game arena seem transgressive to the viewers’ eyes, both because of their appearance, full of the items that make up the game's clothing (uniform, protectors, among others), as well as the actions they perform during the matches - push, knock, collide, using techniques that require attributes such as strength and aggression.…”

“…Still, according to the athletes' remarks, we realized that when the athletes do not fit the created stereotype, that is, that players are big, rough and strong, they are questioned as to their playing ability, as in the case of Maria, who is asked about being small and playing rugby. This is corroborated by Oliveira et al (2019), Tovia (2014) Joncheray and Tlili (2013), Fallon (2010) and Almeida (2008), who affirm that while women are expected not to appear strong and large, people usually think that only large and overweight people practice the sport, characterizing yet another stereotype of athletes in the sport. Almeida (2008: 89) reiterates this point of view when stating that in Brazil:…”

“…In addition to the stereotype of rugby being a masculine sport, other stereotypes related to the sport that are reported by the athletes include, for example, the fact that it is a sport of violent and dangerous actions (Adjepong, 2016, 2017; Oliveira et al, 2019) and, therefore, it would be strange to see women practicing. Some people asked them about playing rugby, about the risks of injury, as shown by the remarks A‘[…] ‘wow, do you play this?’, ‘But doesn't it hurt you?’, ‘Isn't it too dangerous?’ (Cristiane); ‘You’re a girl and you play such a violent sport’ (Maria).…”

“…Furthermore, at least a third of the representatives of the World Rugby Council are women (World Rugby, 2023). Despite the increase in the number of practitioners, rugby is still considered a male sport and atypical for women (Joncheray and Tlili, 2013; Joncheray et al, 2014; Oliveira et al, 2019; Taylor et al, 2019).…”

Desigualdad de género en el deporte de competición: voces y reflexiones (Gender inequality in competitive sport: voices and reflections)

“…Las voces de las participantes en este estudio se encuentran en consonancia con los resultados obtenidos en diversas investigaciones previas en el contexto español que identificaron que las mujeres se encuentran infrarrepresentadas y silenciadas en los medios de comunicación (Flores & Amaru, 2022;Martínez-Abajo et al, 2020;Rangel & Ramírez, 2018;López, 2016;Gómez, 2015;Sainz de Baranda, 2014;López, 2011). Del mismo modo, perciben que deben demostrar elevadas cotas de rendimiento para merecer atención mediática (Oliveira, Altmann & Marques, 2019). Asimismo, en sintonía con resultados de estudios como el de Martínez-Abajo et al (2020), las participantes denuncian que las lesiones de los hombres tuvieron prioridad frente a las noticias de logros deportivos de las mujeres deportistas.…”