Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England

Laura  Grubb; Tom Webb; Mike Rayner

doi:10.4324/9781003253990-12

Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England

Laura Grubb
, Tom Webb
, Mike Rayner

University of Portsmouth

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

78 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Women in Sport explored women’s experiences and identified that 38% of women encountered gender discrimination and 30% of women had experienced inappropriate behaviour from the opposite sex in the workplace. Issues related to sexism and gender discrimination are still present for women within association football. Football referees play an integral role in organised matches; however, refereeing is still dominated by men with 27,451 male referees compared to 1,718 female referees in England. Using the lack of fit model, this chapter explores the experiences of female football referees and discusses the support they have received throughout their careers. Semi-structured interviews were employed, and data were analysed through deductive thematic analysis. This study identified that female referees require ongoing support with their training, including female-only referee courses, and require better facilities at matches. Female mentors and female role models are recommended to help retain and recruit female referees and support their ongoing professional development. Gender stereotypes need to continue to evolve within football to ensure that female referees are accepted within football.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Critical Issues in Football
Subtitle of host publication	A Sociological Analysis of the Beautiful Game
Editors	Will Roberts, Stuart Whigham, Alex Culvin, Daniel Parnell
Place of Publication	United Kingdom
Publisher	Routledge
Chapter	8
Pages	111-123
Number of pages	13
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9781003253990
ISBN (Print)	9781032183091, 9781032183114
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253990-12
Publication status	Published - 8 Feb 2023
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	Critical Research in Football
Publisher	Routledge

Bibliographical note

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality

Access to Document

10.4324/9781003253990-12

Webb2023AAMAccepted author manuscript, 820 KB

Cite this

Grubb, L., Webb, T., & Rayner, M. (2023). Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England. In W. Roberts, S. Whigham, A. Culvin, & D. Parnell (Eds.), Critical Issues in Football: A Sociological Analysis of the Beautiful Game (1st ed., pp. 111-123). (Critical Research in Football). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253990-12

Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England. / Grubb, Laura ; Webb, Tom; Rayner, Mike.
Critical Issues in Football: A Sociological Analysis of the Beautiful Game. ed. / Will Roberts; Stuart Whigham; Alex Culvin; Daniel Parnell. 1st. ed. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2023. p. 111-123 (Critical Research in Football).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Grubb, L, Webb, T & Rayner, M 2023, Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England. in W Roberts, S Whigham, A Culvin & D Parnell (eds), Critical Issues in Football: A Sociological Analysis of the Beautiful Game. 1st edn, Critical Research in Football, Routledge, United Kingdom, pp. 111-123. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003253990-12

Grubb L, Webb T, Rayner M. Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England. In Roberts W, Whigham S, Culvin A, Parnell D, editors, Critical Issues in Football: A Sociological Analysis of the Beautiful Game. 1st ed. United Kingdom: Routledge. 2023. p. 111-123. (Critical Research in Football). doi: 10.4324/9781003253990-12

Grubb, Laura ; Webb, Tom ; Rayner, Mike. / Experiences of Female Football Referees : Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England. Critical Issues in Football: A Sociological Analysis of the Beautiful Game. editor / Will Roberts ; Stuart Whigham ; Alex Culvin ; Daniel Parnell. 1st. ed. United Kingdom : Routledge, 2023. pp. 111-123 (Critical Research in Football).

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Experiences of Female Football Referees: Using the Lack of Fit Model to Explore Gender Stereotypes in Football in England

Abstract

Publication series

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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