Sporcu ergen kızların spora katılımının sosyo-ekolojik model ve toplumsal cinsiyet yaklaşımı bağlamında analizi

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the sport experiences of adolescent female athletes based on the socio-ecological model and gender perspective. We grounded the study on qualitative methodology and critical and feminist paradigms. We collected the data with individual interviews from 27 female athletes (aged 9-17) who live in different (six) cities in Turkey, with differing socioeconomic backgrounds. Content analysis showed that sport experiences of adolescent female athletes were shaped by various and frequently overlapping socio-ecological dimensions, such as individual factors; motivation, self-confidence and fun; social factors; sport involvement of family, family support, and sisterhood that is associated with physical education teachers and teammates, and physical factors; sport facilities provided by school. However, in terms of political factors, we found out that adolescent female athletes swing between studentships and athletics on account of educational policies and non-existing state support. We presume that this study, by emphasizing the importance of gender and the socio-ecological factors, will contribute to the state policies that would aim to improve the participation and maintenance of girls in sport in Turkey. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR