Facing the Bogey: Women, Football and Sexuality

This article examines the implications for football players of the way in which women’s sport is regularly framed within discourses of sexuality. It focuses on a premier league football team in New Zealand comprised of both homosexually and heterosexually identified women. Interviews with players reveal the extent to which homophobia is associated with women’s experiences of football and is something that all players have had to confront. While homophobia within women’s football can be reduced through the increased visibility of lesbian players and interactions with their heterosexual team-mates, homo-negativity from outside the team is experienced at two levels, based on irrational judgements and purposeful intimidating behaviour directed at sportswomen.