Female Boxing and Violence in Trinidad

Abstract

Historically, female involvement in sport has met with resistance and even moreso in boxing because of its greater association with violence, the supposed epitome of <i>hypermasculinity</i> and antithesis of femininity. Based on a qualitative study of 10 female boxers and officials in Trinidad, the validity of the civilizing thesis on boxing and the empowerment thesis in relation to female involvement in sport were examined. The view that boxing is a violent sport was generally rejected due to the rules and regulations that exist to protect the health and safety of the boxers (e.g., chest pads; mouth pads) but it was still seen as dangerous although not any more so than other contact sports. There was also little support for the view that female involvement in the sport can serve to empower women through challenging male domination as the boxers concerned were motivated primarily by expressive factors linked to love for the sport and enjoyment.