The skill or the skirt: A qualitative investigation into the lives of women in sport

The primary focus for this study was addressing the nature of gender inequality for women in sport. The aim of the study was to achieve this by examining how women participated in sport. This thesis aimed to contribute to the promotion of gender equality for women in sport and how best to achieve this equality. This study originated from a feminist perspective and applied a qualitative method approach to investigating this phenomenon. As part of this qualitative method approach this research used semi-structured interviews. These interviews consisted of six participant‟s one focus group and three individual interviews. The results of this study found that gender inequality does exist for women in sport. It is as a result of power within sporting institutions, the patriarchal dividend, media objectification and power, men‟s attitudes to women in sport and women‟s attitudes to sport. The literature that was reviewed as part of this study verified that. The results of the study also showed how more research needs to take place if achieving equality is to become possible