Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality

"All sports focus on the physical body, with images of speed and power, agility, skilfulness and achievement. Throughout the history of sports, gender divisions and stereotypes have been intrinsic to their structure and culture, while sexuality has been inseparable from the gendered character of sports. In other words, gender and sexuality have been fundamental to the understanding and practice of all sports and physical cultures, and lie at the centre of the growing field of sport studies.The Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality offers a guide of unparalleled depth and breadth to the many complex inter-relationships between sport, gender, and sexuality. Consisting entirely of new empirical and theoretical essays by leading and emerging researchers and scholars from around the world, the books maps the historical, theoretical and empirical terrain of gender and sexuality studies in sport. Including personal and political narratives from across a wide range of different sports and physical activities, the book covers the separation of male and female sport and physical education from the mid-nineteenth century up until the present day. It examines structural and cultural forms of gender segregation, homophobia, heteronormativity and transphobia, as well as the ideological struggles and changes that have led to nuanced ways of thinking about the sport, gender, and sexuality nexus. This is a landmark work of reference that will be a key resource for all advanced students and researchers workingin sport studies, gender studies, sexuality studies or sociology"--

Jennifer Hargreaves is retired from full-time university work and is now a freelance writer/consultant. She was an early pioneer of sport sociology specializing in gender issues, the role of women in sport and the politics of the body. Jennifer has published prolifically, with translations into several different languages; has given addresses all over the world; and has worked as a guest professor in Germany, Hong Kong and Japan.

Eric Anderson is a sociologist and a Professor of Sport, Masculinities and Sexualities at the University of Winchester, UK. His research shows an increasingly positive relationship between gay athletes and sport, as well as a growing movement of heterosexual masculinities becoming softer and more inclusive. Professor Anderson has published twelve books, including Sport, Theory and Social Problems, Inclusive Masculinity and Sport, Masculinities and Sexualities, all with Routledge.