Abstract:
This research investigated the histories of athletes in the all-female adventure race (AR) team Atenah. AR is a multi-sport competition of mixed teams with at least one person whose gender is different from the other members’. This qualitative, descriptive study consisted of a semi-structured interview with Atenah’s five members. The athletes use ‘subversion’ and ‘conservation’ strategies, according to Bourdieu, and establish ‘agency,’ according to Dworkin and Messner. That they organized an all-female team can be understood as a ‘subversion strategy’ or the establishment of ‘resistant agency.’ Paradoxically, Athena’s athletes also used ‘conservation strategies’ to remain in sports, thus creating ‘reproductive agency.’ Therefore, their families’ support and encouragement were crucial to their success, but women's engagement in adventure race may be threatened by marriage and motherhood as institutions.
Keywords:
Sports; Nature; Gender studies; Women