Paper Presentation X:
Gender and Participation in Sport
Monday, April 12, 10.00–13.00

Birgitta Plymoth
Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linkoping University

In this paper I discuss equestrian sports as a field for gender construction. Equestrian sports differ from most competitive sports as men and women compete in the same classes. There are no separate women- or men´s competition and no system of handicap based on gender. Hence there is a kind of equality in riding sports as competitive sports. In a Swedish context the Swedish Equestrian Federation (SEF) has, likewise other sport federations, as one of it’s missions to promote equality between the sexes. It is to be done in a field primarily associated with women and femininity. This gender labelling has changed in the 20^th century.

The purpose of this paper is to present how SEF through their federation- and member journal Häst & Ryttare (Horse & Rider) creates a discursive field where both ideal of equality and gender differences exist. Hence it is important to subdivide the activities of equitation sports into components such that it is possible to visualise were and how gender (differences) are introduced into the discursive field. Further, by emphasising equitation sports as fostering activities it is evident that the federation is not primarily exposing the equitation sport as a competitive activity.[1] Instead the equitation sports and activities surrounding it, are highlighted for its possibilities to let (girls/women) develop leadership and other qualities that could be useful outside the equitation sports. In some sense the conventional view of femininity is challenged in line with the ideal of equality at the same time as the career opportunities for the girl/woman is separated from the sportsman career. The successful sportsman is primarily represented by men, either associated with traditional horseman characteristics or more business oriented.