Open Play : The Case for Feminist Sport

Author: Bekker, Sheree

Feminism & feminist theory

Published on 1 February 2025 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.

Sheree Bekker and Stephen Mumford argue that the category of ‘women’s sport’ is not the feminist win some would have you believe. Instead, the segregation of women in sport is just one more way in which women are told to expect less from society. Women had to fight to be included in sport in the first place, and are now only included under far less favourable terms than those enjoyed by men.

There are better and more accurate ways to ensure safety and fairness than segregation by gender. And this matters deeply: open play would encourage a more equitable distribution of resources, increase women’s participation in sport and challenge outdated, sexist myths about women and their bodies.