Reconsidering feminisms and the work of Norbert Elias for understanding gender, sport and sport-related activities

Abstract

SportThis article re-examines the relationships between feminisms and the figurational or process-sociological approach of Norbert Elias for understanding gender, sport and sport-related activities. The main aim is to challenge Colwell's (1999: 220) claim that there is a "potentially incontrovertible difference" between feminist and figurational perspectives that limits the possibility of a synthesis between the approaches in understanding sport and gender. The paper also represents a contribution to the debate 3 that is founded on claims that Elias and figurational sociologists are relatively silent on gender issues (Hargreaves, 1992(Hargreaves, , 1994Horne and Jary, 1987), and that Elias's work is limited in answering questions about gender (Hargreaves, 1992(Hargreaves, , 1994. Feminist and Figurational/Process Sociology: Key PrinicplesWithin the limits of this journal article it is not possible to present a detailed account of feminist theories. However, it should be noted from the outset: "to lay claim to the title 'feminist' is not to adhere to a certain orthodoxy" (Whelehan, 1995: 20). give primacy to particular issues and increasingly the complexities of gender are being examined in terms of women's relationships with men and with other women, and men's relationships with men. Furthermore, it should be noted that it is not wrong to focus on female culture and female sport in studies of gender if one is aware of uneven gender relations that make possible female dominance over other females, female dominance over males, and male dominance over males, as well as male dominance over females.The hallmark of sports feminism is "a commitment to an explicitly theoretical approach to the interpretation of sport as a gendered activity" (Birrell, 2002: 61). The complexities of gender relations in sport and sport related activities have been bought to the fore by feminists considering women and men, and masculinities and femininities, in relational terms and by articulating, for example, the connections between gender and sex, raceethnicity, social class and disability (Birrell, 1988(Birrell, , 2002Hargreaves, 1994;Scraton and Flintoff, 2002).It is also not my intention to provide a comprehensive overview of the form of sociological inquiry argued for by figurational/process sociologists (Elias, 1978;Mennell, 1992;Van Krieken, 1998). However, Van Krieken's (1998: 6-7) account of the overlapping principles underlying figurational/process sociology provides a useful framework for introducing Norbert Elias's approach. The five principles concern the character of human social life and are as follows: (1) My response to Colwell (1999) represents a contribution to the dialogue between feminists and figurational sociologists of sport that has existed since the 1980s. The details of the discussions that have occurred during the past three decades can be found in the extant literature (Dunning, 1992;Colwell, 1999;Hargreaves, 1992Hargreaves, , 1994 Liston, 2007 forthcoming;Maguire and Mansfield, 1998;Mansfield, 2002). The...

Resourcefulness, reciprocity and reflexivity: the three Rs of partnership in sport for public health research

“…Acts of reflexivity involving an examination of assumptions, behaviours, emotions and the impacts of actions are significant to understanding relationships in a range of contexts including research, management, professional and personal ones (Cunliffe 2004). The locus of reflexive analysis lies in striving for adequate balances of involvement-detachment at every level of RPP partnership work; from conception and design to delivery and evaluation (Mansfield 2007(Mansfield , 2008. The practicalities of reflexive practice are complex, ambiguous and often uncomfortable yet several authors in sport illustrate reflexive analysis as a detour to higher quality knowledge production and exchange.…”

The Quest for Exciting Knowledge: Developments in Figurational Sociological Research on Sport and Leisure.

“…Rather as has been suggested (Mennell, 1992;Mansfield, 2008;Malcolm, 2011), the 'usefulness' of knowledge will be shaped by the ability of a group to justify their view of the world to other humans, as well as the sense of emotional gratification knowledge generates for its holders. In making sense of the social world of sport and leisure, more recent theoretical-empirical work shows a passion for different, diverse and more nuanced applications of Elias's work.…”

Fitness Cultures and Environmental (in)Justice?

“…A feminist sense of critical self-reflection has been important in this regard to managing my-self in the research setting, in balancing the tasks of sociologist as participant and inquirer and in bringing an appropriate balance of passion and reason to the analysis (Mansfield, 2007(Mansfield, , 2008. Such a reflective approach is also a hallmark of critical ethnography and this research can be thought of in light of such an approach.…”

“…In Wheaton's (2002;248) terms such critical subcultural ethnography is best described as "the researcher's written representation of that culture". I was always mindful of the impact my involvement might have on interpreting and understanding the green fitness agenda (Mansfield, 2007(Mansfield, , 2008.…”