The ‘Enrichment Hypothesis’ as an Explanation of Women's Participation in Rugby

Abstract

The widely acknowledged reduction in participation in sport by women presents a major challenge to sports administrators. Especially challenged are sports that are non‐traditional for women, typified by ‘masculine’ characteristics of physical power and body contact, such as rugby. The purpose of this paper is to seek an explanation for why some women do decide to participate in such non‐traditional sports. Specifically, it examines women who participate in rugby, focusing on the applicability of the ‘enrichment hypothesis’ (Auster, 2001) as a method of explaining their participation. The enrichment hypothesis proposes that non‐traditional leisure choices require exposure to a social environment that provides both an awareness of and support for such choices (Auster, 2001). Interviews with 40 female rugby union players from South Australia were conducted, employing a semi‐structured interview technique, to examine the motivations for why they initially participated in rugby and what kept them participating. The findings from these interviews lend support to the enrichment hypothesis, suggesting participants were involved because they knew other players, had a family that were supportive and involved in the sport, and that the social element of the participation was a key ongoing motivator. The implications for sports administrators keen to maximise women's participation in non‐traditional leisure and sports fields are discussed.