The Feminization of Sports Fandom

Women fans have entered the traditionally male domain of the sports stadium in growing numbers in recent years. Watching professional sport is important for women for so many reasons, but their expectations and experiences have been largely ignored by academics. This book tackles these shortcomings in the literature and sheds new light on the many ways in which women become sports fans. This groundbreaking study is the first to focus on the phenomenon of the feminization of sports fandom. Including original research on football and rugby union in the UK, it looks at the increasing opportunities for women to become sports fans in contemporary society and critically examines the way this form of leisure is valued by women. Drawing upon feminist thinking and intersectionality, it shows how women from different social classes and age groups consume the spectacle of sport. This book is fascinating reading for any student or scholar interested in sport and leisure studies, sociology and gender or women's studies.

Stacey Pope is Senior Lecturer in Sport in the School of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University, UK.

1. Introduction 2. Women's Changing Leisure Lives 3. Changes in Professional Sport and the Feminization of Sports Fandom 4. Continuity and Change in the Lives of Female Sports Fans 5. Women, Sport and a Sense of Place 6. Rivalry and Class Distinction between Female Football and Rugby Union Fans 7. The Meaning and Importance of Sport for Female Fans 8. Conclusion Appendix: Research Participants