Spatial justice in the development of a women’s football team in Melbourne, Australia; an ethnographic study
A summary of the research:
The article "Spatial Justice in the Development of a Women’s Football Team in Melbourne, Australia" explores the challenges faced by a newly established women’s football team in accessing training grounds and facilities in a male-dominated sporting environment. Using an ethnographic approach, the researchers followed the club’s development over 18 months, uncovering issues of spatial injustice where long-standing male clubs were prioritized by local councils for access to space. This unequal distribution of resources highlighted how women’s teams, especially those with diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, struggled to find adequate facilities for training and competition. Despite policies aimed at gender equity, the study reveals that these practices do not align with local actions, leaving new women’s teams disadvantaged.
The research highlights that although the desire to play football is strong among women, especially in culturally diverse communities, the access to space and resources remains restricted. Pre-established male clubs benefit from historic relationships with local governments, maintaining a monopoly on facilities. The women’s team had to conform to certain rituals, like joining a faith-based league, which created tensions due to religious and cultural differences. The study concludes that to promote true gender equity in sports, local governments must address these spatial injustices and allocate resources more fairly.
Key Takeaways:
Access to facilities is limited for women’s teams: Pre-established male clubs are prioritized, making it difficult for new, ethnically diverse women’s teams to secure training grounds.
Gender equity policies lack local implementation: While policies promote gender equity in sport, the on-ground allocation of resources often contradicts these goals.
Participation in faith-based leagues created identity conflicts: Diverse players in the women’s team had to negotiate their cultural and religious identities to comply with league practices
Authors: Nadia Bevan, Ruth Jeanes & Hayley Truskewycz
You can read the whole article here.
