Im Zuge dieser Arbeit soll Frauenrugby in Deutschland im kulturwissenschaftlichen Sinne näher beleuchtet werden. Hierbei wird sich besonders auf die Geschlechterrollen und die Rugbykultur und Gemeinschaft bezogen und diese in Vergleich zu Großbritannien gesetzt. Weil die Sportart mit vielen Vorurteilen belegt ist, und Rugby Stereotyp "maskulin" konnotiert ist, ist es notwendig, sich den Rollenbildern in dieser Sportart zu widmen. Zusätzlich wird der Vergleich mit Großbritannien erstellt, um verschiedene Problematisierungen mit einem Land zu kontrastieren, in dem Rugby ein Nationalsport ist. In dieser Masterarbeit werden daher am Beispiel von Frauenrugby in Deutschland tradierte Frauenbilder im Sport hinsichtlich Stereotypen und Vorurteilen untersucht und mit dem Vorreiter im Rugby Großbritannien verglichen. Ausgehend hiervon sollen die internationalen Werte und Chancen, die der Sport Frauen bietet, evaluiert werden.
Die Grundlage bilden Experteninterviews. Anhand dessen werden die drei häufigsten Stereotype, denen die Spieler*innen begegneten, herausgearbeitet. Diese beziehen sich zum einen auf Körperbilder und Homosexualität. Zum Anderen auf den direkten Vergleich mit dem Spiel der Männer und die damit einhergehende Annahme der verminderten Qualität des Frauensports. Diese wird durch mangelnde Finanzierung und daraus folgende geringe mediale Präsenz verstärkt. Darauf aufbauend wird die Rugbykultur in Deutschland und international beleuchtet und hinterfragt, inwieweit Frauen darin inkludiert sind und wie dies das Gruppengefühl des Sportes formt. Zum Schluss wird die sogenannte "dritte Halbzeit" untersucht und in diesem Zuge die Werte und der Zusammenhalt thematisiert.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Methodological Approach
2.1 Theoretical Framework
2.1.1 Hegemonic Femininity
2.1.2 The Female (Un)apologetic
2.2. Methodology
2.3. Data
3. The Development of Women’s Sport and Rugby in Germany and the United Kingdom
3.1. Gender Roles in Sport
3.2. Rugby in the United Kingdom and Germany
3.3. Organisation, Numbers and Facts of Women’s Rugby
4. Stereotypes in Women’s Rugby
4.1. Body Images and Identity Construction
4.2. Homosexuality
4.3. Not the Men's Game
5. Rugby Culture
5.1. Rugby Community
5.2. Rugby Values
5.3. The ‘Third Half-Time’
6. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
8. Appendices
8.1 Appendix A -Women’s rugby clubs in Germany
8.2 Appendix B – England Women’s rugby clubs
8.3 Appendix C- Code of Conduct Kiel Rugby 2019
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis investigates the role of women's rugby in Germany, exploring the interplay between traditional gendered norms, negative stereotyping, and the empowering nature of the rugby community. By conducting expert interviews and a cross-cultural comparison with the United Kingdom, the research addresses how players navigate identity construction and community values within a male-dominated sport.
- Analysis of traditional gender roles and the development of women's rugby in Germany versus the UK.
- Examination of prevalent stereotypes regarding female bodies, homosexuality, and the "men's game" paradigm.
- Evaluation of the rugby subculture, including the role of community support and the tradition of the 'third half-time'.
- Assessment of the financial and structural differences impacting the growth of the sport in both nations.
- Exploration of how rugby values (inclusiveness, respect, fairness) foster empowerment and resistance against social prejudices.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. Body Images and Identity Construction
“Eine typische Reaktion wenn ich erzähle, dass ich Rugby spiele ist: Was? Du? Du siehst ja gar nicht aus wie eine Rugbyspielerin. Meine Gegenfrage ist dann immer: Wie sieht eine Rugbyspielerin denn aus? Und dann kommt halt häufig: Dick und Mannsweib und dann frage ich, hast du denn schon mal ein Spiel geguckt? Und dann kommt meistens die Antwort: ‘Nein.’
In order to set the tone of the following chapter, I argue that rugby offers, as Basham formulates it: “a form of resistance to gendered body standards” (2018, p. 17). Moreover, the construction of identity cannot take place independently of the body (Kleindienst-Cachay and Kunzendorf, 2003, p. 113). I base this argumentation on my findings, as well as the research conducted by Basham, Joncheray et al., Chase and Cleary who researched especially in women’s rugby. All of the players interviewed replied unapologetically about their bodies, most of them were also proud of their bodies. However, due to the small scale of interviews this cannot represent the whole rugby community and arguments will be set in relation to the literature. Additionally, I follow Chase’s argument that “focusing on the body offers a powerful insight into the culture of women’s rugby” (2006, p. 244).
The introductory quote sets the tone for many female rugby players in Germany. Even though many Germans have no clear understanding of what rugby is, a masculine connotation is apparent in people’s minds, as the notion that rugby is a male terrain is perpetuated. Hence, a rugby body is a male body (Chase, 2006, p. 229). Further, this image of a female rugby player is often seen as ‘unfeminine’ and does not fit the western social expectancy of a perfect female body that is reduced on the look and not on the function (Schwalm, 7.6.21). This is not limited to rugby and as Schwalm portrays in her documentary about sportive female bodes, even women in a ‘feminine’ sport as dance, struggle with acceptance of their muscular body.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research problem regarding the niche status of women's rugby in Germany and the goal to analyze gender roles and stereotypes compared to the UK.
2. Methodological Approach: Details the cultural studies perspective and the use of qualitative expert interviews to explore subjective experiences and societal constructs.
3. The Development of Women’s Sport and Rugby in Germany and the United Kingdom: Outlines the historical context of gender in sports and the development of rugby structures, highlighting the disparity in financial support and popularity between Germany and the UK.
4. Stereotypes in Women’s Rugby: Examines how female players are confronted with stigmas regarding their bodies, sexuality, and the comparison to the "men's game," exploring how they react with pride and resistance.
5. Rugby Culture: Investigates the core values of rugby, the importance of the close-knit community, and the controversial yet bonding tradition of the 'third half-time'.
6. Conclusion: Evaluates the research hypotheses, confirming that while stereotypes persist, the inclusive rugby community provides a vital space for empowerment.
Keywords
Women's Rugby, Germany, United Kingdom, Gender Roles, Hegemonic Femininity, Female Apologetic, Stereotypes, Body Image, Homosexuality, Rugby Community, Empowerment, Cultural Studies, Sport Sociology, Third Half-Time, Inclusiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this master thesis?
The thesis explores the cultural and social situation of women's rugby in Germany, analyzing how the sport challenges traditional gender norms and how players deal with pervasive stereotypes.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the study?
Central themes include hegemonic femininity, the "female apologetic," body image and identity construction, the stigmatization of player sexuality, and the role of rugby culture as a space for empowerment.
What is the main research question of this work?
The study aims to understand the structure of women's rugby in Germany and the UK, the specific stereotypes female players face, and how the rugby community contributes to resistance against these negative perceptions.
Which scientific methodology does the author use?
The research adopts a qualitative, interpretative paradigm based on semi-structured expert interviews with seven participants from Germany and the UK, supplemented by an analysis of relevant academic literature.
What does the main part of the thesis cover?
The main part analyzes the historical development of women's rugby, identifies three major stereotypes (body image, homosexuality, and inferiority compared to men's rugby), and details the significance of rugby culture and traditions.
Which keywords define this research?
The work is defined by terms such as women's rugby, gender studies, hegemonic femininity, sport sociology, empowerment, and cultural identity.
Why is the comparison between Germany and the UK significant?
The UK represents a nation where rugby is a national sport with robust financial investment, providing a contrast to Germany, where the sport is a niche, often underfunded activity that faces different societal challenges.
What is the significance of the "third half-time" in this research?
The "third half-time" is investigated as a central cultural tradition that strengthens group cohesion and community bonds, despite its sometimes unprofessional appearance to outsiders and potential for group pressure.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Katharina Guhr (Autor:in), 2021, Women's Rugby in Germany. Stereotypes and Values, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1141238
