The Factors Promoting the Sports Experiences of Women Football Players and Examining the Problems Faced with Gender Approach

The aim of this study is to examine the factors encouraging women’s participation in football and the problems they are faced with by using the social gender approach. The sampling of this qualitative case study was 13 female footballers playing for Eskişehir Çamlıca Football Club, which is one of the teams competing in the 3rd interregional league in Turkey. Focus group interview technique was used to collect data, and the data obtained were analyzed through content analysis method. The analysis of the data revealed four different themes. According to the results, it was found that the problems they encountered and the motivating factors in their sports life had common grounds. In addition, they believed that the sports branch they consciously chose contributed to their self-development and social development. Accordingly, we can state that the negative experiences of female footballers are basically due to social gender inequalities and the resulting patriarchal sports policies. Finally, we can conclude that an increase in the number of female footballers, who are still a minority, might lead to a significant decrease in the social gender pressure on them as well as the discrimination they are exposed to.