Women's football in Brazil and England´s national football museums

Abstract

The challenging trajectory of women's football in Brazil and in England is discernible with reference to its gradually shifting prominence within heritage and museums. Nonetheless, the persistent differences regarding visibility and recognition, and negative associations women’s football is attributed, have contributed to the underrepresentation of women's football heritage at both the Museu do Futebol in São Paulo, Brazil and at the National Football Museum in Manchester, England. This research identifies temporal milestones related to the presence of women's football in these national museums, as well as the proactive measures undertaken to ensure the inclusion of women’s football items into their respective collections since 2015. Combining theoretical references with exploratory research, we aimed to identify connections between the factors which stimulated the appreciation of women's football within these museums, contributing to discussions about the musealization of football. We conclude that women's football has been addressed progressively by the Museu do Futebol and the National Football Museum through the exhibition of its successes and milestones but we also consider the challenges of the past and the present, in a context in which demands and commitments have to be balanced.