Abstract
A significant development in sport over the last century is the greater involvement of women resulting from transformations in the gender order. Studies in the sociology of sport document the gradual decline of sport as a male preserve. Equestrian sport is an interesting yet complex case with regard to gender equity and participation among women. There are, however, equestrian events that are slower to respond to pressures for greater gender equity, the prime example being polo. Theoretically, we use the work of Bourdieu to conceptualize the relationship between material and cultural factors in both presenting opportunities and barriers to the participation of women in polo. Our chapter examines the shifting gender dynamics within equestrian polo in Canada. Consistent within equestrian sport in North America, women have a long history of participation in polo even though the sport is and has been primarily dominated by men. Lately, though, as in the case of sport in general, polo has undergone a transformation as participation among women in polo has increased and women have taken on more active and prominent positions in the sport. Given this recent trend, the purpose of our analysis is to better understand what it means for women who are playing polo, the challenges they face, and their influence on the sport generally.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adelman, M., & Moraes, F. A. (2008). Breaking their way in: Women jockeys at the racetrack in Brazil. Advances in Gender Research, 12, 99–123.
Allott, S. (2009, May 21). Polo player Nina Clarkin: A life on horseback. The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/polo/5350114/Polo-player-Nina-Clarkin-a-life-on-horseback.html. Accessed 17 Mar 2011.
Baldwin, C. K., & Norris, P. A. (1999). Exploring the dimensions of serious leisure: ‘Love me – Love my dog!’. Journal of Leisure Research, 31(1), 1–17.
Board, J. (1956). Polo. London: Faber and Faber.
Bourdieu, P. (1984). Distinction. Boston: Harvard University Press.
Cahn, S. K. (1994). Coming on strong: Gender and sexuality in twentieth-century women’s sport. New York: Free Press.
Choi, P. Y. L. (2000). Femininity and the physically active woman. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.
College Women Play Polo. (1915, January 21). New York Times. http://www.wctpolo.com/WCT-HistoryofWomeninPolo-.html. Accessed 19 Mar 2011.
Dunning, E. (1986). Sport as a male preserve: Notes on the social sources of masculine identity and its transformations. Theory, Culture & Society, 3(1), 79–90.
Dunning, E. (1999). Sport matters: Sociological studies of sport, violence, and civilization. London: Routledge.
Eichberg, H. (1995). Problems and future research in sports sociology: A revolution of body culture? International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 30(1), 1–23.
Fitzpatrick, H. L. (1910). Equestrian polo. New York: American Sports Publishing Co.
Game, A. (2001). Riding: Embodying the centaur. Body & Society, 7(4), 1–12.
Gillespie, D. L., Leffler, A., & Lerner, E. (1996). Safe in unsafe places: Leisure, passionate avocations, and the problematizing of everyday public life. Society and Animals, 4(2), 169–188.
Gillespie, D. L., Leffler, A., & Lerner, E. (2002). If it weren’t for my hobby, I’d have a life: Dog sports, serious leisure, and boundary negotiations. Leisure Studies, 21(3–4), 285–304.
Gratz, K. L., Conrad, S. D., & Roemer, L. (2002). Risk factors for deliberate self-harm among college students. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72, 128–140.
Haragreaves, J. (1994). Sporting females: Critical issues in the history and sociology of women’s sports. London: Routledge.
Hedenborg, S. (2009). Unknown soldiers and very pretty ladies: Challenges to the social order of sport in post-war Sweden. Sport in History, 29(4), 601–622.
Heilman, M. E. (2001). Description and prescription: How gender stereotypes prevent women’s ascent up the organizational ladder. Journal of Social Issues, 57, 657–674.
Laffaye, H. A. (2009). The evolution of polo. Jefferson: McFarland & Company Inc.
Las Pampas Polo. (2011). Tack and equipment: Mallets. http://www.laspampaspolo.com/shop/Mallets-p-1-c-48.html. Accessed 17 Mar 2011.
Lee, J., & Macdonald, D. (2009). Rural young people and physical activity: Understanding participation through social theory. Sociology of Health & Illness, 3, 360–374.
Marvin, G. (2007). English foxhunting: A prohibited practice. International Journal of Cultural Property, 14(3), 339–360.
McConville, C. (2008). A global racecourse: Work, culture & horse sports. Melbourne: Australian Society for Sports History.
Merlini, V. L. (2004). A case study of the equestrian sport of polo: An integrative approach to issues of structure, function, and interaction. Doctoral dissertation, University of Connecticut, CT.
Museum of Polo. (2011). Hall of fame list of inductees (Alphabetical). http://www.polomuseum.com/hof_inductees/inductees_alpha.htm. Accessed 19 Mar 2011.
Nikku, N. (2005). The culture of the barn as an arena for the development of girls’ identity. Sociologisk Forskning, 4, 29–34.
Pfister, G. (1993). Appropriation of the environment, motor experiences and sporting activities of girls and women. International Review of the Sociology of Sport, 28(2–3), 159–172.
Polo Management Services. (2010). Polo management services. http://www.polomanagement.com. Accessed 19 Mar 2011.
Rees, T. (2000). Polo: The galloping game. Alberta: Western Heritage Centre.
Reynolds, J. (1990). A Grand Slam for Polo’s Grande Dame: Sue Sally Hale’s Tam wins first U.S. Women’s Open. Polo Magazine. http://www.wctpolo.com/WCT-HistoryofWomeninPolo-.html. Accessed 19 Mar 2011.
Schaffner, S. (2009). Environmental sporting: Birding at superfund sites, landfills, and sewage ponds. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 33, 206–229.
Sheard, K. (1999). A twitch in time saves nine: Birdwatching, sport, and civilizing processes. Sociology of Sport Journal, 16(3), 181–205.
Sport Polo. (2010). The equestrian sport of polo. http://www.sportpolo.com/. Accessed 19 Mar 2011.
White, A., & Brackenridge, C. (1985). Who rules sport? Gender divisions in the power structure of British sports organizations from 1960. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 20(1/2), 95–107.
Wipper, A. (2000). The partnership: The horse-rider relationship in eventing. Symbolic Interaction, 23(1), 47–70.
Women in Polo. (1928, October 8). New York Times. http://www.wctpolo.com/WCT-HistoryofWomeninPolo-.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2011.
Women Play Polo. (1901, March 8). New York Times. http://www.wctpolo.com/WCT-HistoryofWomeninPolo-.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2011.
Women Play Polo. (1910, August 13). New York Times. http://www.wctpolo.com/WCT-HistoryofWomeninPolo-.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2011.
Women Riders Play Dashing Polo Against Men. (1913, February 9). New York Herald. http://www.wctpolo.com/WCT-HistoryofWomeninPolo-.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2011.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gilbert, M., Gillett, J. (2013). Women in Equestrian Polo: Cultural Capital and Sport Trajectories. In: Adelman, M., Knijnik, J. (eds) Gender and Equestrian Sport. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6824-6_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6824-6_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6823-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6824-6
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)