Men want to take care of princesses! Costs, resistances and challenges of competitive women athletes in couple relationships in Spain

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore whether women's challenge of patriarchal dominance in the sport context extends to the realm of their couple relationships and how it may, or may not, affect their intrinsic relationship dynamics. A qualitative methodology was used. Forty-five women living in Córdoba (Spain) participated in this study. Five focus groups were organized according to age and type of sport practiced. Grounded Theory was used for data analysis. Their narratives suggest that the attitudes of their (male) partners remain anchored in patriarchal gender norms. They identify in them paternalistic attitudes, the suffering of certain forms of punishment for their athletic bodies and the generation of feelings of discomfort for their successes. Two types of discourses coexist: one of resistance and another reflecting patriarchal ideas.