Abstract
This article utilises the theories of Inclusive Masculinity and Organisational Cultural Lag to provide the first comprehensive exploration of sexual minority inclusion in the British horseracing industry. The study employs a quantitative approach, involving a survey distributed to two mixed-gender populations within the sport: jockeys ( n = 149) and non-athlete stakeholders ( n = 308). Results indicate that approximately one fifth of jockeys selected a response other than ‘straight’, while less than 4% of the population of jockeys and stakeholders would view a sexual minority colleague ‘very negatively’. However, despite the relatively high proportion of sexual minority individuals working within the industry, and the positive attitudinal responses towards having a sexual minority colleague, only one of the 149 jockeys surveyed identified as a sexual minority and were publicly ‘out’.
Highlights
This article utilises the theories of Inclusive Masculinity and Organisational Cultural Lag to provide the first comprehensive exploration of sexual minority inclusion in the British horseracing industry
The results demonstrate a considerable population of non-heterosexual participants (Table 1), higher than general population estimates for sexual minorities (Office for National Statistics, 2019); 19.46% of jockeys and 18.95% of the wider racing survey indicated they identified as a sexual orientation other than straight
This study extends the application of Inclusive Masculinity to a novel environment, which can contribute to a broader understanding of the theory; Anderson (2009) encouraged diversified application in order to establish the framework’s relevance in alternative contexts
Summary
This article utilises the theories of Inclusive Masculinity and Organisational Cultural Lag to provide the first comprehensive exploration of sexual minority inclusion in the British horseracing industry. Horseracing industries in other jurisdictions have been examined in respect of gender and sexualities, exploring the myriad cultural contexts in which equestrian activities contribute to the formation of femininities and masculinities (Adelman and Knijnik, 2013). These studies have ranged from barriers faced by female jockeys, to fashion and culture (Adelman and Moraes, 2008; Butler and Charles, 2012; Goodrum, 2015). This article aims to investigate the previously uncharted territory of sexual minority representation within British horseracing through the following objectives:
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