Women's Participation in Endurance Events: An Example of How Far We Have Come

Pauline, Gina

doi:10.1080/07303084.2014.855572

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Results found by Nikolaidis et al [ 23 ] can be explained by the decrease in the male-female ratio of competitors in this event, but also by the fact that an increase in women participating in younger age groups has been observed. It should be considered that the female peak age performance is not just related to physiological aspects but also to cultural, social, and sports scenarios that should favor female engagement in sports [ 24 ]. In the past, female athletes usually retired early from sports careers, due to various reasons, such as family obligations, loss of motivation, injuries, or financial problems [ 12 ], but changes in social beliefs and patterns regarding opportunities for women in the last decades have allowed female athletes to compete until late ages.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Trends in the Age of Peak Performance among the Best Half-Marathoners and Marathoners in the World between 1997–2020

et al. 2021

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Background and Objectives: We examined the possible trend in the age of peak performance in elite endurance athletes according to sex, continent of athletes’ national citizenship, and ranking position. Since performance is a multifactorial trait, this information can be used to guide the long-term training and to plan the strategies related to the selection process of athletes. Materials and methods: Information of 1852 professional athletes, classified as top 20 performance of each year in marathon and half-marathon events between 1997 and 2020 were considered. Analysis of variance was computed to test differences in age between sex, continent, and rank position. Results: A significant difference between groups in the mean age of peak performance was observed (F (3, 1884) = 42,31; p < 0.001). For both sexes, half-marathoners were younger than marathoners (male, 25.6 ± 3.6 years vs. 28.0 ± 3.9 years; female, 27.5 ± 4.4 years vs. 28.4 ± 4.1). Female half-marathoners in 2004 presented the highest mean age (31.1 ± 4.8 years) compared to their peers in the years 1997, 2001, 2018 and 2019; among male half-marathoners, those in 1999 presented the highest mean age when compared to 2011, 2018, and 2019. Differences between the continents of athletes’ national citizenship were observed (F (4, 1884) = 62,85,601; p < 0,001). Asian runners presented the lowest mean age (26.5 ± 3.7 years), while their European peers presented the highest (31.1 ± 3.9 years). No significant interaction between sex and ranking position was verified. Differences were observed between sexes for categories “4th–10th positions” and “11th–20th” (F (1, 1879) = 23,114; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Over the last two decades, no clear trend was observed in the changes in the age of peak performance among endurance athletes of both sexes, but, in general, female half-marathoners tended to be significantly older than their male peers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Trends in the Age of Peak Performance among the Best Half-Marathoners and Marathoners in the World between 1997–2020

et al. 2021

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“…The events were increasingly promoted not so much as a competition for serious athletes, but as a fitness pursuit offering 'health-enhancing properties' for participants (246). Over the past four decades, the appeal of marathon (and other endurance pursuits, e.g., road and trail run events, triathlons, obstacle/challenge races) as a recreational and consumer pursuit, occurring in conjunction with changing social norms concerning women's athleticism, has resulted in a new women's recreational sport culture (Pauline, 2014).…”

Section: Age and Socioeconomic Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The marketing messages of these corporations target women with consumer purchasing power, typically white and middle-class women, who the corporations believe are desiring popular athletic apparel, to embody trends and a brand ethos, as well as to train. These brands have engineered sportswear tailored to women's bodies designed to provide style and function, such as sports bras, running skirts, tank tops, shoes and more (Pauline, 2014). Further, companies are turning their efforts to younger consumers in order to harness brand loyalty at an early age.…”

Section: Age and Socioeconomic Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Today, not only are the majority of women running marathon races in their 30s and 40s, with women typically men in co-ed races (Bachman, 2016), but there has also been what Pauline (2014) terms 'a surge in women-only events that have been embraced by the public' (4). A few notable examples are the Disney Princess or Tinker Bell Half Marathon events, which are now some of the largest marathon races in the U.S. and are commercial, corporate-sponsored events typically focused around 'fun, camaraderie, and family' (Miller, 2014: 4).…”

Section: Age and Socioeconomic Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Women’s Marathon Participation in the United States, 1980-2019

DeLuca

Clevenger

Zabriskie

et al. 2023

Journal of Cultural Analysis and Social Change

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Over 45 percent of participants in U.S. marathon events identify as women (World's Largest, n.d.), a noteworthy development considering women comprised just 11% of participants in 1980 (Ryder, 2013). Most U.S. women competing in marathon events also identify as white and middle class, indicating significant racial and socio-economic divisions in this growth in participation. The rise in U.S. women's marathoning is linked to historical changes in the late twentieth century, particularly the passage of Title IX, movements for social justice and women's liberation, and the commercialization and marketization of running events. How does the increase in women's participation relate to performance rates in organized marathon events? To better understand the historical and sociocultural factors associated with U.S. women's engagement in marathoning, this article examines the performance statistics and demographics of the top U.S. women marathon runners from 1980 to 2019 in three major marathon events in the country: New York City, Boston, and Chicago. Results demonstrate the age of high performing female marathon runners has increased significantly during the period, while race time has decreased significantly, and top performers have been largely white. These findings are discussed and contextualized with respect to historical and sociocultural factors surrounding the growth in U.S. women's marathon participation.

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“…Female and racialized athletes are under-represented in sports media coverage when compared with men (Lawrence, 2016; Primm et al, 2007; Weber & Carini, 2013) This is particularly troubling as women and racialized people participate in sport in increasing numbers (Gilreath et al, 2017; Musto et al, 2017; Pauline, 2014; Ponterotto, 2014; Schmidt, 2016; Wiggins, 2014), but this increase has not been reflected in sports media coverage (Cooky et al, 2015; Sherwood et al, 2017). This is not only discouraging for marginalized athletes, it also reinforces and perpetuates firm but false stereotypes and assumptions surrounding who participates in sport, and who can make a claim to being an athlete (Avraham & First, 2010; Zenquis & Mwaniki, 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Racing for Representation: A Visual Content Analysis of North American Running Magazine Covers

Seyidoglu

Roberts

Darroch

et al. 2021

Communication & Sport

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The covers of running magazines are powerful ideological tools, and the individuals featured on covers shape broader public perception of who belongs in running. To examine representation, this study analyzed 285 images of athletes on the covers of three popular North American running magazines over an 11-year period (2009–2019). Through a visual content analysis of cover photos and the use of intersectional feminist theory as a framework, we found disparity in the representation of racialized athletes in comparison to non-racialized athletes, as well as an overrepresentation of female athletes in comparison to their male counterparts. We argue that in order to challenge dominant understandings of who can rightfully and safely participate in running, it is essential to increase the images of racialized people on magazine covers.

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Women's Participation in Endurance Events: An Example of How Far We Have Come

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

No Trends in the Age of Peak Performance among the Best Half-Marathoners and Marathoners in the World between 1997–2020

No Trends in the Age of Peak Performance among the Best Half-Marathoners and Marathoners in the World between 1997–2020

Exploring Women’s Marathon Participation in the United States, 1980-2019

Racing for Representation: A Visual Content Analysis of North American Running Magazine Covers

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