Sprinting beyond sexism and gender stereotypes: Indian female fans experiences in the sports fandom

Title

Sprinting beyond sexism and gender stereotypes: Indian female fans experiences in the sports fandom

Creator

Deshpande, Siddhi; Eapen, Jojo Chacko

Description

Although almost half of Indias female population watches sports, their experiences are concealed by traditional masculinity, leading to exclusion and harassment. To explore these experiences in-depth, this qualitative study aims to understand what coping strategies Indian Female Sports Fans (IFSFs) employ to sustain their team identification. Utilising criterion sampling, participants were screened using the Sports Spectators Identification Scale to assess team identification and a Brief Sexism Questionnaire to confirm participants experience with sexism. The participants were Indian women who followed any sport and were not professionals in the sports industry. Ten highly identified fans with gendered experiences were recruited for semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to understand IFSFs lived-in experiences, revealing superordinate themes of (1) Ontogenesis and Enduring Identification, (2) Gendered Experiences and Sexism, (3) Identity, Agency, Resistance, and Resilience, (4) Advocacy for Equality and Inclusivity. The findings reflect that IFSFs experience exclusion, harassment, and objectification in both online and offline fandoms, where they are targeted with death/rape threats, and attraction-based assumptions, questioning their authenticity as fans. To navigate this sexism, they use knowledge assertion, selective silence, and relational coping to claim space in male-dominated fandoms. In doing so, they actively redefine these marginal spaces as sites of empowerment where femininity and sports can coexist. A critical implication of this research is enabling sports organisations to develop inclusive fan engagement policies that actively encourage female fan participation, such as sensitising stadium staff, promoting gender-neutral language, and establishing an environment where sports transcend gender. 2025 International Society of Sport Psychology.

Source

International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology;

Date

01-01-2025

Publisher

Routledge

Subject

Coping strategies; femininity; sexism

Coverage

Deshpande S., Department of Psychology (Clinical), Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bengaluru, India; Eapen J.C., Department of Psychology (Clinical), Christ (Deemed to be) University, Bengaluru, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 1612197X;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2025.2563313

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018206323?origin=resultslist