Body size, race, and beauty in sport

Abstract

This study investigated the attitudes of female university rugby and netball players toward their bodies, specifically their perceptions of size, race, and beauty. The sports were chosen because of their respective masculine and feminine images, historically. The study used a qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of eight players from the women’s rugby and netball teams at a university in the north-east of England. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: inclusivity, discrimination, and the promotion of inclusiveness. Almost all participants reported negative body image, especially outside the sporting environment. However, most participants emphasised a positive outlook on their bodies in society and on the utilisation of their unique bodies to better serve their purposes in the sports they play. The study’s findings emphasise the need to foster inclusivity of body types and races in sporting environments and in the rest of society.