Performans Sporcusu Kadınların Toplumsal Cinsiyete Dayalı Ayrımcılık Deneyimleri ve Sosyal Hizmet Gereksinimleri

Abstract

I conducted this study to address the knowledge gap arising from the insufficient analysis and definition of the social work requirements associated with the gender-based discrimination experiences of female athletes in Turkey. Through this research, I sought to explore the gender-based discrimination experiences of female athletes and to uncover the related social work requirements. I aimed to shed light on the athletic lives of female athletes, the different aspects of gender-based discrimination they are subjected to in the world of sports, the marks these experiences leave on them, and the corresponding social work requirements. To this end, I employed a qualitative research method based on the interpretivist paradigm and adopted an interpretative phenomenological analysis design. The participants of the study, selected through purposive sampling, consisted of 28 female athletes aged 18 and above who are licensed, affiliated with federations in Türkiye, and actively participating in performance sports. I conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with these participants. As data generation tools, I used a personal information form and a semi-structured interview form that I developed based on a review of the literatüre. I analyzed the data -co-constructed with the participants through the interviews- using MAXQDA 2024 and reflective thematic analysis. Accordingly, I identified four main themes: discovering athletic life from the perspective of women; the different aspects of gender-based discrimination within the sports domain; tracing the marks of discrimination; and social work requirements in the struggle to eliminate gendered oppression in sport. The main findings of the study demonstrated that the participants experienced multifaceted forms of discrimination in the world of sports. These dimensions included gendered discourses, gender-based violence, gendered double standards, gender-insensitive economic structures, and lack of visibility. The social work needs associated with these experiences were distributed across different levels of social work practice. I identified clinical and therapeutic interventions and gender-sensitive practices at the micro level; educational and research activities and feminist solidarity and empowerment work at the mezzo level; and gender-responsive and inclusive social policies, along with advocacy and awareness-raising efforts for gender equality in sport, at the macro level. Since sport social work is still an emerging field within the broader discipline of social work, I believe this study has the potential to fill a significant gap in the literature, in social work practice, and in the development of policies promoting gender equality in sport.