Female Football Players and Fans ― Intruding into a Man's World

This volume draws upon social science and historical approaches to provide insights into the world of women’s football and female fans. It gives an in-depth analysis of the development of the women’s game in different European countries and examines the experiences of female fans. An overview about women’s football in Europe shows the rise and development of the game and the increasing inclusion of girls and women in football and fan communities. To date, there has been a lack of research on female participation in football, but drawing on research studies from various European countries, the volume explores a range of issues, including how girls and women become football fans and players, how women combine football with their everyday lives, and how they may encounter stereotypes and barriers when they challenge male dominance by entering this traditionally male sport.

This collection will be of interest to students and scholars in a range of fields, including sports sociology, sport sciences, gender studies, leisure studies, women’s studies as well as fandom and cultural studies.

Gertrud Pfister is Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She is the author and editor of 17 books and more than 250 articles. Her main research interest is in gender and sport.

Stacey Pope is Associate Professor at Durham University, UK. Her research interests include gender and sport, sports fandom and the sociology of football and rugby union.