Black women, intersectionality and sport coaching

Abstract

In the United Kingdom (UK), as is the case globally, the trends towards the silencing of Black women’s experiences within sport coaching research and practice highlights the imminent need for critical research that theorises ‘race’, ethnicity, gender and their intersections from the perspectives of Black women coaches themselves. Drawing on the work of Critical race theorists, Black feminists and intersectionality scholarship, this chapter provides a counter-narrative to the dominant perspectives espoused in sport coaching. In particular, it highlights the dynamic nexus of ‘race’ and gender, drawing on primary research from the experiences of Black women coaches in the UK and supplemented by narrative from the autobiography of ex-England football manager, Hope Powell (Powell, 2016). The chapter centres a group of coaches whose accomplishments, contributions and voices have traditionally been relegated to the margins. We further challenge notions of meritocracy and ‘race’ neutrality in sport and argue for a greater understanding of equalities, identities and leadership in sport, underpinned by an intersectional approach. In doing so, key stakeholders will have a better-informed approach to improving the diversity and quality of representation of coaches and the ultimate success of sport coaching.