- Brief created: 2021
- For development
- United Kingdom (UK)
Towards the “Undoing” of Gender in Mixed-Sex Martial Arts and Combat Sports
Based on:
Journal Article (2014) ↗
This work explores the role of sex-integrated martial arts and combat sports in challenging sexist understandings of gender.
Brief by:
This work demonstrates that sex-integrated physical activity can promote progressive and inclusive shifts in the ways in which people conceptualise gender and perform gender relations. Specifically, it discusses how martial artists confront and overcome difficulties relating to gender within mixed-sex training and competitive encounters.
The paper highlights three particular moments that are crucial in building towards the ‘un-doing’ of sexist renditions of gender.
Key findings
Firstly, the work explores the possibility of promoting a sense of female ownership of martial arts, through holding or sharing roles as instructors, coaches or demonstrators.
I argue that this encourages women to develop a sense of belonging within spaces traditionally associated with men and masculinity, while helping men to accept the possibility of female authority and respect for women's expertise.
Secondly, it discusses how a shift towards a shared identity as martial artists can replace the predominance of gender in shaping interactions 'on the mat' or 'in the ring'.
This is argued to represent a major obstacle to effective training in integrated environments, but can be challenged through repeated exposure and coaches' efforts in normalising mixed practices. In addition, this helps both men and women to change their ideas about women's physical abilities, principally by providing opportunities for these to be showcased in the novel, sometimes quite dramatic ways that martial arts practice affords.
Thirdly, the paper expressly cautions against uniform, 'one-size-fits-all' approaches to challenging gender within martial arts and combat sports, advocating a sensitive approach that acknowledges individual and cultural preferences and dispositions.
That is to say that certain types of sex integration may be inappropriate in some scenarios and result in more harm than good, meaning the recommendations otherwise made need implementing carefully and selectively.
Proposed action
Consider that sports and physical activities - including martial arts - can be excellent vehicles for challenging gender ideology, particularly when they provide women and girls opportunities to embody strength, power and toughness
Sex integration in sport adds an important layer of additional significance to women and girls' demonstration of physical competence
Cautious implementation of these recommendations is always advised; for instance, sex integration is not culturally appropriate in all environments, while the presence of men/boys may be intimidating for some women/girls, or indeed, non-binary or transgender people (and vice-versa, depending on the nature of the activity)
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Towards the “Undoing” of Gender in Mixed-Sex Martial Arts and Combat Sports
Cite this brief: Channon, Alex. 'Towards the “Undoing” of Gender in Mixed-Sex Martial Arts and Combat Sports'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/gender-in-mixed-sex-in-combat-sports/
Brief created by: Dr Alex Channon | Year brief made: 2021
Original research:
- Channon, A., ‘Towards the “Undoing” of Gender in Mixed-Sex Martial Arts and Combat Sports’ 4(4) (pp. 587–605) https://doi.org/10.3390/soc4040587. – https://doi.org/10.3390/soc4040587
Research brief:
This work explores the role of sex-integrated martial arts and combat sports in challenging sexist understandings of gender.
This work demonstrates that sex-integrated physical activity can promote progressive and inclusive shifts in the ways in which people conceptualise gender and perform gender relations. Specifically, it discusses how martial artists confront and overcome difficulties relating to gender within mixed-sex training and competitive encounters.
The paper highlights three particular moments that are crucial in building towards the ‘un-doing’ of sexist renditions of gender.
Findings:
Firstly, the work explores the possibility of promoting a sense of female ownership of martial arts, through holding or sharing roles as instructors, coaches or demonstrators.
I argue that this encourages women to develop a sense of belonging within spaces traditionally associated with men and masculinity, while helping men to accept the possibility of female authority and respect for women’s expertise.
Secondly, it discusses how a shift towards a shared identity as martial artists can replace the predominance of gender in shaping interactions ‘on the mat’ or ‘in the ring’.
This is argued to represent a major obstacle to effective training in integrated environments, but can be challenged through repeated exposure and coaches’ efforts in normalising mixed practices. In addition, this helps both men and women to change their ideas about women’s physical abilities, principally by providing opportunities for these to be showcased in the novel, sometimes quite dramatic ways that martial arts practice affords.
Thirdly, the paper expressly cautions against uniform, ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches to challenging gender within martial arts and combat sports, advocating a sensitive approach that acknowledges individual and cultural preferences and dispositions.
That is to say that certain types of sex integration may be inappropriate in some scenarios and result in more harm than good, meaning the recommendations otherwise made need implementing carefully and selectively.
Advice:
Consider that sports and physical activities – including martial arts – can be excellent vehicles for challenging gender ideology, particularly when they provide women and girls opportunities to embody strength, power and toughness
Sex integration in sport adds an important layer of additional significance to women and girls’ demonstration of physical competence
- This is particularly the case when men and boys are also able to experience these things first-hand, and/or when women/girls are able to train, perform, or even in some cases compete with men/boys on a relatively even footing.
Cautious implementation of these recommendations is always advised; for instance, sex integration is not culturally appropriate in all environments, while the presence of men/boys may be intimidating for some women/girls, or indeed, non-binary or transgender people (and vice-versa, depending on the nature of the activity)