The Professionalisation of Womens Sport

As womens sport continues to grow and develop there is an increasing need to critically examine the conditions in which women as athletes operate. The Professionalisation of Womens Sport discusses the processes of professionalisation in womens sports as distinct from, and different to, that seen in mens sport, identifying different challenges that face the growth of womens elite sport. Within this collection, the complex and often fragmented nature of womens involvement across a range of sports are critically discussed. Contributions span the fields of sport sociology, sport history, sport economics and beyond, and across the varying geographical contexts of North America, Europe, Australia and South Africa. Examining American football, basketball, cricket, cycling, golf, ice hockey, tennis, rugby union and rugby league, scholars consider the emergence of professionalisation, the role of the media, and experiences in and of womens (semi-)professional sport. The Professionalisation of Womens Sport is an essential reference point for any student, researcher or professional interested in, or working in, elite womens sport settings.