Women's Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: some preliminary sociological comments

Katie/K Liston

doi:10.1080/14660970600615450

Women's Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: some preliminary sociological comments

Katie/K Liston

Faculty Of Life & Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This essay endeavours to present a more reality-congruent understanding of aspects of theemergence and development of women’s soccer in Ireland since the 1970s. It draws on interviewand survey data, and on the author’s elite level involvement in women’s soccer sincethe mid 1990s, to suggest that a present day phenomenon – in this case, females’ increasinginvolvement in a traditionally male-associated sport like soccer – is more adequatelyunderstood as a specific point in a longer and wider developmental social phenomenon. Incomparison to previous works in this general area (for example, Bourke and Williams), itis suggested that females’ increasing participation in soccer in Ireland is more adequatelyunderstood, in sociological terms, by looking at: (i) the position of soccer in the overallstatus hierarchy of sports; (ii) female and male athletes’ positions within soccer; (iii) theconsequences of social relations for the self-conceptions of males’ and females’ habituses:and, (iv) the ways in which changes in the self-images and social make-up of male andfemale athletes are inextricably bound up with changes in the social structure of genderrelations generally. Finally, this chapter offers some ideas for future directions in researchon women’s soccer, and women’s sports more generally.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	364-384
Journal	Soccer and Society
Volume	7
Issue number	2-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970600615450
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2006

Bibliographical note

Reference text: Acosta, L. and L. Carpenter. Women in Intercollegiate Sport: A Longitudinal, National Study Twenty
Seven Year Update 1977–2004. Available from www.nagws.org.; INTERNET.
Bairner, A, ed. Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues. Dublin: University College Dublin
Press, 2005.
Bourke, A. ‘Women’s Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: Past Events and Future Prospects.’ In Soccer,
Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era, edited by Fan Hong and J. Mangan.
London: Frank Cass, 2004: 162–82.
Burton-Nelson, M. The Stronger Women Get, the More Men like Football: Sexism and the American
Culture of Sport. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1994.
Clarke, A. ‘Figuring a Brighter Future.’ In Sport and Leisure in the Civilizing Process, edited by E.
Dunning and C. Rojek. London: Macmillan, 1992: 201–21.
Clayton, B. and J. Harris. ‘Footballers’ Wives: The Role of the Soccer Player’s Partner in the
Construction of Idealized Masculinity.’ Soccer and Society 5, no.3 (2004): 317–35.
Dowling, C. The Frailty Myth: Redefining the Physical Potential of Women and Girls. New York:
Random House, 2000.
Dunning, E. Sport Matters. London: Routledge, 1999.
Dunning, E. and J. Maguire. ‘Process-Sociological Notes on Sport, Gender Relations and Violence
Control.’ International Review for the Sociology of Sport 31, no.3 (1996): 295–317.
Elias, N. What is Sociology. London: Macmillan, 1978.
Hargreaves, J. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the Sociology and History of Women’s Sports.
London: Routledge, 2004.
Hong, Fan and J. Mangan, eds. Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. London:
Frank Cass, 2004.
Houlihan, B. Sport, Policy and Politics: A Comparative Analysis. London: Routledge, 1997.
Jinxia, D. and J. Mangan. ‘Ascending then Descending: Women’s Soccer in Modern China.’ Soccer
and Society 3, no.2 (2002): 1–18.
Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Fifth Report:
Women in Sport. Dublin: Government Publications Office, 2004.
Liston, K. ‘Sport, Gender and Commercialisation.’ Studies 90, no.359 (2001): 251–66.
———. ‘The Gendered Field of Irish Sport.’ In Ireland Unbound: A Turn of the Century Chronicle,
edited by M. Corcoran and M. Peillon. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 2002: 231–47.
———. ‘Some Reflections on Women’s Sports.’ In Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues,
edited by A. Bairner. Dublin: UCD Press, 2005: 206–24.
———. ‘Established-Outsider Relations between Males and Females in the Field of Sport in Ireland.’
Irish Journal of Sociology 14, no.1 (2005): 66–85.
———. ‘Sport and Gender Relations.’ Sport and Society 9, no. 4 (2006).
———. ‘Revisiting the Feminist-Figurational Sociology Debate.’ Sport in Society. Forthcoming
(2006).
Liston, K. and M. Corry. ‘Chicks without Sticks: The Emergence and Development of the Ladies
Gaelic Football Association.’ Under review.
Lopez, S. Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women’s Football. London: Scarlet Press, 1997.
Majumdar, Boria. ‘The Politics of Soccer in Colonial India, 1930–1937: The Years of Turmoil.’ Soccer
and Society 3, no.3 (2002): 70–87.
384 K. Liston
Scraton, S., K. Fasting, G. P. Fister and A. Bunuel. ‘It’s Still a Man’s Game? The Experiences of Top-
Level European Women Footballers.’ International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 34, no.2
(1999): 99–113.
Swaan, A. de. Human Societies: An Introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2001.
Williams, J. A Game for Rough Girls. London: Routledge, 2003.

Keywords

women's soccer
Ireland
gender

Access to Document

10.1080/14660970600615450

Cite this

@article{a0c3cfc4afad458c8c0f49d1bf2b1766,

title = "Women's Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: some preliminary sociological comments",

abstract = "This essay endeavours to present a more reality-congruent understanding of aspects of theemergence and development of women{\textquoteright}s soccer in Ireland since the 1970s. It draws on interviewand survey data, and on the author{\textquoteright}s elite level involvement in women{\textquoteright}s soccer sincethe mid 1990s, to suggest that a present day phenomenon – in this case, females{\textquoteright} increasinginvolvement in a traditionally male-associated sport like soccer – is more adequatelyunderstood as a specific point in a longer and wider developmental social phenomenon. Incomparison to previous works in this general area (for example, Bourke and Williams), itis suggested that females{\textquoteright} increasing participation in soccer in Ireland is more adequatelyunderstood, in sociological terms, by looking at: (i) the position of soccer in the overallstatus hierarchy of sports; (ii) female and male athletes{\textquoteright} positions within soccer; (iii) theconsequences of social relations for the self-conceptions of males{\textquoteright} and females{\textquoteright} habituses:and, (iv) the ways in which changes in the self-images and social make-up of male andfemale athletes are inextricably bound up with changes in the social structure of genderrelations generally. Finally, this chapter offers some ideas for future directions in researchon women{\textquoteright}s soccer, and women{\textquoteright}s sports more generally.",

keywords = "women's soccer, Ireland, gender",

author = "Katie/K Liston",

note = "Reference text: Acosta, L. and L. Carpenter. Women in Intercollegiate Sport: A Longitudinal, National Study Twenty Seven Year Update 1977–2004. Available from www.nagws.org.; INTERNET. Bairner, A, ed. Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues. Dublin: University College Dublin Press, 2005. Bourke, A. {\textquoteleft}Women{\textquoteright}s Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: Past Events and Future Prospects.{\textquoteright} In Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era, edited by Fan Hong and J. Mangan. London: Frank Cass, 2004: 162–82. Burton-Nelson, M. The Stronger Women Get, the More Men like Football: Sexism and the American Culture of Sport. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1994. Clarke, A. {\textquoteleft}Figuring a Brighter Future.{\textquoteright} In Sport and Leisure in the Civilizing Process, edited by E. Dunning and C. Rojek. London: Macmillan, 1992: 201–21. Clayton, B. and J. Harris. {\textquoteleft}Footballers{\textquoteright} Wives: The Role of the Soccer Player{\textquoteright}s Partner in the Construction of Idealized Masculinity.{\textquoteright} Soccer and Society 5, no.3 (2004): 317–35. Dowling, C. The Frailty Myth: Redefining the Physical Potential of Women and Girls. New York: Random House, 2000. Dunning, E. Sport Matters. London: Routledge, 1999. Dunning, E. and J. Maguire. {\textquoteleft}Process-Sociological Notes on Sport, Gender Relations and Violence Control.{\textquoteright} International Review for the Sociology of Sport 31, no.3 (1996): 295–317. Elias, N. What is Sociology. London: Macmillan, 1978. Hargreaves, J. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the Sociology and History of Women{\textquoteright}s Sports. London: Routledge, 2004. Hong, Fan and J. Mangan, eds. Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. London: Frank Cass, 2004. Houlihan, B. Sport, Policy and Politics: A Comparative Analysis. London: Routledge, 1997. Jinxia, D. and J. Mangan. {\textquoteleft}Ascending then Descending: Women{\textquoteright}s Soccer in Modern China.{\textquoteright} Soccer and Society 3, no.2 (2002): 1–18. Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Fifth Report: Women in Sport. Dublin: Government Publications Office, 2004. Liston, K. {\textquoteleft}Sport, Gender and Commercialisation.{\textquoteright} Studies 90, no.359 (2001): 251–66. ———. {\textquoteleft}The Gendered Field of Irish Sport.{\textquoteright} In Ireland Unbound: A Turn of the Century Chronicle, edited by M. Corcoran and M. Peillon. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 2002: 231–47. ———. {\textquoteleft}Some Reflections on Women{\textquoteright}s Sports.{\textquoteright} In Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues, edited by A. Bairner. Dublin: UCD Press, 2005: 206–24. ———. {\textquoteleft}Established-Outsider Relations between Males and Females in the Field of Sport in Ireland.{\textquoteright} Irish Journal of Sociology 14, no.1 (2005): 66–85. ———. {\textquoteleft}Sport and Gender Relations.{\textquoteright} Sport and Society 9, no. 4 (2006). ———. {\textquoteleft}Revisiting the Feminist-Figurational Sociology Debate.{\textquoteright} Sport in Society. Forthcoming (2006). Liston, K. and M. Corry. {\textquoteleft}Chicks without Sticks: The Emergence and Development of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.{\textquoteright} Under review. Lopez, S. Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women{\textquoteright}s Football. London: Scarlet Press, 1997. Majumdar, Boria. {\textquoteleft}The Politics of Soccer in Colonial India, 1930–1937: The Years of Turmoil.{\textquoteright} Soccer and Society 3, no.3 (2002): 70–87. 384 K. Liston Scraton, S., K. Fasting, G. P. Fister and A. Bunuel. {\textquoteleft}It{\textquoteright}s Still a Man{\textquoteright}s Game? The Experiences of Top- Level European Women Footballers.{\textquoteright} International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 34, no.2 (1999): 99–113. Swaan, A. de. Human Societies: An Introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2001. Williams, J. A Game for Rough Girls. London: Routledge, 2003.",

year = "2006",

month = oct,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1080/14660970600615450",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

pages = "364--384",

journal = "Soccer and Society",

issn = "1466-0970",

publisher = "Taylor & Francis",

number = "2-3",

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N1 - Reference text: Acosta, L. and L. Carpenter. Women in Intercollegiate Sport: A Longitudinal, National Study Twenty Seven Year Update 1977–2004. Available from www.nagws.org.; INTERNET. Bairner, A, ed. Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues. Dublin: University College Dublin Press, 2005. Bourke, A. ‘Women’s Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: Past Events and Future Prospects.’ In Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era, edited by Fan Hong and J. Mangan. London: Frank Cass, 2004: 162–82. Burton-Nelson, M. The Stronger Women Get, the More Men like Football: Sexism and the American Culture of Sport. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1994. Clarke, A. ‘Figuring a Brighter Future.’ In Sport and Leisure in the Civilizing Process, edited by E. Dunning and C. Rojek. London: Macmillan, 1992: 201–21. Clayton, B. and J. Harris. ‘Footballers’ Wives: The Role of the Soccer Player’s Partner in the Construction of Idealized Masculinity.’ Soccer and Society 5, no.3 (2004): 317–35. Dowling, C. The Frailty Myth: Redefining the Physical Potential of Women and Girls. New York: Random House, 2000. Dunning, E. Sport Matters. London: Routledge, 1999. Dunning, E. and J. Maguire. ‘Process-Sociological Notes on Sport, Gender Relations and Violence Control.’ International Review for the Sociology of Sport 31, no.3 (1996): 295–317. Elias, N. What is Sociology. London: Macmillan, 1978. Hargreaves, J. Sporting Females: Critical Issues in the Sociology and History of Women’s Sports. London: Routledge, 2004. Hong, Fan and J. Mangan, eds. Soccer, Women, Sexual Liberation: Kicking Off a New Era. London: Frank Cass, 2004. Houlihan, B. Sport, Policy and Politics: A Comparative Analysis. London: Routledge, 1997. Jinxia, D. and J. Mangan. ‘Ascending then Descending: Women’s Soccer in Modern China.’ Soccer and Society 3, no.2 (2002): 1–18. Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Fifth Report: Women in Sport. Dublin: Government Publications Office, 2004. Liston, K. ‘Sport, Gender and Commercialisation.’ Studies 90, no.359 (2001): 251–66. ———. ‘The Gendered Field of Irish Sport.’ In Ireland Unbound: A Turn of the Century Chronicle, edited by M. Corcoran and M. Peillon. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 2002: 231–47. ———. ‘Some Reflections on Women’s Sports.’ In Sport and the Irish: Histories, Identities, Issues, edited by A. Bairner. Dublin: UCD Press, 2005: 206–24. ———. ‘Established-Outsider Relations between Males and Females in the Field of Sport in Ireland.’ Irish Journal of Sociology 14, no.1 (2005): 66–85. ———. ‘Sport and Gender Relations.’ Sport and Society 9, no. 4 (2006). ———. ‘Revisiting the Feminist-Figurational Sociology Debate.’ Sport in Society. Forthcoming (2006). Liston, K. and M. Corry. ‘Chicks without Sticks: The Emergence and Development of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.’ Under review. Lopez, S. Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women’s Football. London: Scarlet Press, 1997. Majumdar, Boria. ‘The Politics of Soccer in Colonial India, 1930–1937: The Years of Turmoil.’ Soccer and Society 3, no.3 (2002): 70–87. 384 K. Liston Scraton, S., K. Fasting, G. P. Fister and A. Bunuel. ‘It’s Still a Man’s Game? The Experiences of Top- Level European Women Footballers.’ International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 34, no.2 (1999): 99–113. Swaan, A. de. Human Societies: An Introduction. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2001. Williams, J. A Game for Rough Girls. London: Routledge, 2003.

PY - 2006/10/1

Y1 - 2006/10/1

N2 - This essay endeavours to present a more reality-congruent understanding of aspects of theemergence and development of women’s soccer in Ireland since the 1970s. It draws on interviewand survey data, and on the author’s elite level involvement in women’s soccer sincethe mid 1990s, to suggest that a present day phenomenon – in this case, females’ increasinginvolvement in a traditionally male-associated sport like soccer – is more adequatelyunderstood as a specific point in a longer and wider developmental social phenomenon. Incomparison to previous works in this general area (for example, Bourke and Williams), itis suggested that females’ increasing participation in soccer in Ireland is more adequatelyunderstood, in sociological terms, by looking at: (i) the position of soccer in the overallstatus hierarchy of sports; (ii) female and male athletes’ positions within soccer; (iii) theconsequences of social relations for the self-conceptions of males’ and females’ habituses:and, (iv) the ways in which changes in the self-images and social make-up of male andfemale athletes are inextricably bound up with changes in the social structure of genderrelations generally. Finally, this chapter offers some ideas for future directions in researchon women’s soccer, and women’s sports more generally.

AB - This essay endeavours to present a more reality-congruent understanding of aspects of theemergence and development of women’s soccer in Ireland since the 1970s. It draws on interviewand survey data, and on the author’s elite level involvement in women’s soccer sincethe mid 1990s, to suggest that a present day phenomenon – in this case, females’ increasinginvolvement in a traditionally male-associated sport like soccer – is more adequatelyunderstood as a specific point in a longer and wider developmental social phenomenon. Incomparison to previous works in this general area (for example, Bourke and Williams), itis suggested that females’ increasing participation in soccer in Ireland is more adequatelyunderstood, in sociological terms, by looking at: (i) the position of soccer in the overallstatus hierarchy of sports; (ii) female and male athletes’ positions within soccer; (iii) theconsequences of social relations for the self-conceptions of males’ and females’ habituses:and, (iv) the ways in which changes in the self-images and social make-up of male andfemale athletes are inextricably bound up with changes in the social structure of genderrelations generally. Finally, this chapter offers some ideas for future directions in researchon women’s soccer, and women’s sports more generally.

KW - women's soccer

KW - Ireland

KW - gender

U2 - 10.1080/14660970600615450

DO - 10.1080/14660970600615450

M3 - Article

VL - 7

SP - 364

EP - 384

JO - Soccer and Society

JF - Soccer and Society

SN - 1466-0970

IS - 2-3

ER -

Women's Soccer in the Republic of Ireland: some preliminary sociological comments

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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Cite this