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Women’s Football Supporter Culture in Sweden

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Female Football Players and Fans

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Abstract

Radmann and Hedenborg present a comprehensive analysis of contemporary women’s football fandom in Sweden. With a starting point in women’s own life stories three themes are displayed in the descriptions of football fandom. First, women’s participation in supporter culture is restricted—they are not welcomed in all groups and symbolic violence used against them is obvious. Second, to enable participation in supporter culture women develop strategies to gain respect through demonstrating football knowledge and adhering to a certain dress code. Third, and in contrast to the other themes, women experience freedom in the football stands and an ability to challenge gender norms and even transgress the gender order.

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Radmann, A., Hedenborg, S. (2018). Women’s Football Supporter Culture in Sweden. In: Pfister, G., Pope, S. (eds) Female Football Players and Fans. Football Research in an Enlarged Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59025-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59025-1_11

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-59024-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-59025-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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