Queering the Pitch: Exploring the Experiences of Players in Amateur Gay Football Teams

By:
Mac McCarthy,
Louisa Jones
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We are currently researching the experiences of gay football players and gay football teams, their motivations and the reactions that they receive in seeking to establish themselves in both gay and straight leagues. Traditionally, football and many other sporting arenas, have not been recognised as gay spaces. Our research is exploring the challenges presented by gay players to both the straight and gay communities. We explore dimensions of diversity within this context and look towards developing strategies for integration for the future, as well as potential role models for gay youth. Our research is informed, in part, by the work of Butler [1990, 1993] and Pronger [1990, 1999], along with aspects of queer theory and tribalism.


Keywords: Gay football, Diversity and social integration issues, Exploring notions of gay space, Gay identity
Stream: Cultural Sustainability
Presentation Type: Virtual Presentation in English
Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Mac McCarthy

Senior Lecturer, Dept of Tourism and Leisure Management, University of Central Lancashire
UK

Mac has many years experience of both teaching and consultancy work. He has worked on pioneering projects in public sector organizations, including helping organizations develop strategies for diversity and sexuality. He works regularly with organizations involved in consumer representation and on change management issues. He teaches for the Open University, in addition to UCLAN.

Louisa Jones

Senior Lecturer, Dept of Tourism and Leisure Management, University of Central Lancashire
UK

Louisa has experience of teaching both in the UK and overseas. She has worked with international organisations in mentoring academics from Turkey and China in the development of their University Curricula. At UCLAN, Louisa is leads 8 undergraduate degree programmes and is a member of the University Review and Validation Panel. She is responsible for quality assurance monitoring of the Department’s course provision across its network of partner institutions.

Ref: S06P0199