Handbags or hat-tricks? An exploration into female footballers’ experiences of stereotype threat

Recent quantitative studies have found that stereotype threat can negatively impact female footballers’ performance. The purpose of the current research was to explore how female footballers experience and process stereotype threat. By focusing on participants personal experiential accounts, the internalisation and effects of stereotypes were studied. Five participants were interviewed with a semi-structured interview schedule. The research was conducted using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Super-ordinate themes of Assumptions, Process of Marginalisation, and Personal Reaction to Stereotypes emerged. The poor treatment of participants from youth level up to present day was demonstrated. Participants experienced stereotypes from multiple sources, which can negatively affect performance focus and outcome. The findings indicate that education courses around inclusivity for parents, coaches, teachers and male footballers, and mental toughness training for female footballers may be beneficial