Feminist Sports Psychology Article Review Read the article then write a review. These reading reviews should give a general synopsis of the article, 2-3 ke

Feminist Sports Psychology Article Review Read the article then write a review. These reading reviews should give a general synopsis of the article, 2-3 key lines from the article, and a proper APA citation. These reviews should be formatted as an article review note-sheet, which gives the reader the basics of the article should they need to retrieve information on it quickly. Gill, D.L. (2001). Feminist sport psychology: A guide for our journey. The Sport Psychologist, 15,
363-372.
The , po rI Psychologisf, 2001 . 15. 363-372
c 2001 HwmlO Kinetics
PubLi~ber ‘.
Inc .
Feminist Sport Psychology:
A Guide for Our Journey
Diane L. Gill
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Feminist sport psychology encompas~es many approaches and has many vatiations . The articles in this special issue reflect that variation but also reflect
common themes outlined in this inrroduclory article. The feminisl framework
for this article begins with bell hooks’ (2000) inclusive, action-oriented definition of feminism as ;’a movement to end sex.isJl1, scxjst expoitaLion. aDd
oppre!’sion” (p. viii). The following themes. drawn from feminist theory and
spon stud.ies scholarship, provide the suppoT1ing structure: (a) gender is relational rather than categorical; (b) gender is inextricably linked wiLb race/
etbniciry, class, and other social identities; (c) gender and cultural relations
involve power nod privilege: and (d) femirusm demands act.ion . Gender sehal ar.ship in sport psychology is reviewed noting recent move,; loward feminist
approachel> and promising directions t’bat incorporate eulruraJ diversity and
relational analyses to move toward feminist practice. The other articles in this
issue reflect similar feminist themes and pre~ent unique contributions to guide
us roward feminist SpOT1 psychology.
This special issue of The Sport Psychologist (TSP) is based on a symposium
presented at the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology
(AAASP) conference in 2000. In that symposium, organized by Villi Krane, the
authors of the lead papers in this issue came together to share their views 00 the
pas t, present, and future of feminist spon psychology. AlJ of tbe authors were
e.ager to contribute to this effort. Sport. psychologists concerned about gender issues in their research and practice find lim.ited research and few resources . Moreover, the sport psychology literature lacks gu.iding ,frameworks and provides few
opportunit.ies to engage in dialogue that might help us develop our own guiding
feminisr perspectives. Preparing this issue gave us an opportunity to share views
and further develop our own feminist perspectives. We hope that by preseoring
this collaborative work, more sport psychologists wiil join in as we continue our
feminist sport psychology journey.
The author i~ Witll tbe Dept. of Exerci,se and Spon Science, University of North
Ccu·ol.ina at Gre.ensboro, NC 27402-0 I 69 . E-mail: .
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Gill
in this introductory articJe. I wlLl provide a guide to our feminist span psy~
cbology journey. After presenting a general definition and overview of feminist
perspectives in sport psychology, I wiD provide a brief overview of papers noting
some themes (lnd connections. Astute readers recognize that we do nol have one
feminist sport psychology, but many. I cannot adequately cover the other authors’
views-you must read all the articles . The variations and differing perspect.ives
are the strength of feminisl sport psychology. Each author contributes her owo
insights and i.nterpretations. You will find considerable overlap and cOllunon themes.
but you wiU also fmd some unique contributions in each paper. As you read and
retlect, you may accept some views, reject otbers. modify and incorporate some
views. and develop your unique perspective.
Feminism
As we go ill search of femirus( sport psychology, we might clarify some terms and
frameworks. Tn particular, the. tenn ”fem.jnist” carries many meanings. and we
have no single feminist perspective shared by a.U those who accept the label. As
most readers rewze, feminist approacbes typically emphasize subjective interpretations and reject the illusjon of objective reality. Feminist sport psychology, as
presented here, reflects my interpretations. The other authors in this issue may
well offer differing interpretations, and readers are invited and encouraged to do as
well.
Feminism. the “P” word in many circles, is not easily defmed by those who
claim to be feminist. Note that those who cla.im not to be feminist often have clear
definirions, but tbat doesn’t help those of us struggling to develop our frameworks.
Few tex.ts or articles found on women’s studies reading Lists offer such definitions.
Student’s aod professionals often stumble over words or respond defensively when
asked for a defin.ition.
I find the definition from bell hooks’ 1984 book, Feminisf Theory: From
Margin to Center. most helpful to students and useful as a guide. In chapter 2,
titled, “Feminism: A movement to end sexist oppression,” hooks discusses issues
related to definitions. As hooks notes in her more recent (2000) book. Feminism is
for Everybody, that definition holds up well. In the introduction (hooks. 2000), she
invjtes everybody to read and understand that “Feminism is a movement to end
sexism, sexjst exploitation, and oppression” (p. viii).
The defmition is inclusive rather than exclusive and focused on action to
end oppression. Clearly, men have the power in a sexist system, but men are also
restricted by sexism. and men can be part of the movement. hooks has written
extensively, in very accessible language, on feminist theory, and she has always
emphaslud the need to incorporate rac.e and class into a true feminist perspective.
I 1ind hooks ‘ inclusive, action~oriented detiojtion both elegant and useful. The
feminist perspectives that 1 fmd most helpful for sport psychology share those
characteristics.
Feminist Sport Studies
Sport psychology does not have well~developed feminist theories or models. Most
of the authors in this issue, and others who have laken feminist perspectives, have
A Guide for Om Journey
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looked to other areas for their feminist guides. Much of the women’s studies
scholarship and discussions of feminist theory are in tbe humanities. hooks is a
writer and cultural crWc, as weU as a feminist theorist. That wOrk clearly infomls
feminjst scholars in social and behavioral sciences, but ;’hard” science and medical models dominate and present challenges . Psychology has only begun to adopt
true feminist approaches, and sport psychology lags further behind.
Clearly, gender issues are prominent in sport psychology, and a feminist
perspective (or perspectives) could belp us address these many issues. Sport psychology typically follows the lead of the larger psychology area, and some current
psychologists are beginning to t.ake more feminist approaches. We can look to
those psychologists, as weU as to the women studies scholars, as we are developing our feminist perspectives. Those of us with stronger ties to exercise and sport
science also have the work of some clearly feminist sport studies scholars as a
guide. Indeed, feminist sport studies scholars have been my inspiration fTom the
beginning of my own feminist sport psychology journey.
M. Ann Hairs (1996) book., Feminism and Sporting Bodies, subtitled, “Essays on theory and practice.” is my recommended guide for any sport psychologist
on a feminist journey. Hall. who recentJy retired from the University of Alberta.
has been a leading sport studies scholar and clear voice for feminism throughout
her career. Hall’s stated purpose is to “speak feminism” and to explain feminist
theory in relation to sport. The 1996 book begins by tracing her “30-year intelJectual odyssey in the struggle to understand and apply feminist theory” (p. vi). The
subsequent chapters move the reader from the earlier feminist models to feminist
cultural studies and a gender relations perspecti ve.
Hall focuses on theory, but her presentation is clear and concise. Even sport
psychology scholars will recognize the Limits of our biologic and categorical models and the need to take a relational perspective. Gender relations acknowledges
Lhe pervasive, dynamic role of gender in all our interactions and behaviors. More~
over, cultural studies incorporates multiple power relations. That is, gender relations involve power; males have a more dominant, privileged status in gender
relations. Note that tbis reflects sexist oppression in hooks’ definition. Also, cultural studies clearly incorporates race, class, and other power relations that operate
in society and interact with gender in varying, complex ways. HaU’s final ch.apters
move from theory into action, in lrue feminist fashion, as she discusses feminist
research as praxis (moving from our theories to real world action) and socialpolitical action.
Ann Hall clearly “speaks fem.inism” to me. Indeed, Ann Hal.l was the first
person who spoke feminism to me, and her work has always helped me find ferninlS[ direction in sport psychology. Ann visited the University of Waterloo in the
late 1970s where 1 was a beginning faculty member applying social psychology
theory in experimental research in a male-dominated and science-oriented program. Ann’s presentation brought a spark of feminist light to my world, and r have
continued to look [0 the sport studies scholars in flllding my feminist directions.
Nancy Theberge, my faculty colleague at Waterloo, and Susan Birrell, my colleague at Iowa, are lead.ing feminisl sport studies scholars who continue to offer
new insights, challenge sport psychology perspectives, and guide us on our feminist sport psychology joumey. l encou.rage all sport psychologists to look at the
sport studies scholarship. By considering alternatives and challenges. we clarify
our perspecti yes and move ahead in our own direct ions.
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Gill
Listed below (psychologists like lists) are the key themes from the feminist
theory and sport studies scholarship that guide my feminist sport psychology journey. The psychologists who are beginning to take fern.irust perspectives share many
of these views, and you wiU find similar themes in the other articles in lhis issue :
• Gender is relational, not categorical. Gender influences everyone, and gender relations are complex and dynamic. Research and theory that assumes
simple, dichotomous categories cannot explain real world behavior.
• Gender is inextricably intertwi.ned with race/etbnicity, sexuality, social class,
and other cultural identities. We all have multiple, intersecting identities. It
is probably impossible to sort out how much anyone aspect of om identity
(e.g. , gender, race) influenc.es any given behavior.
• Gender and cultural relations involve power. Power. privilege, and oppression are relational and dynamic. Most people are both in positions of privilege and targets of oppression. The salience of our varying identities
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