Meaning of Recreational Sport in the Lives of Norwegian Women
in Women in Sport and Physical Activity JournalClick name to view affiliation
The questions asked in this paper are: what is it that women who participate in recreational sport appreciate most or enjoy most about their sports? What are the differences and similarities among women who participate in aerobics, tennis or soccer? Thirty one Norwegian women (ages 19 to 36 years) participated in the study. The research method used was qualitative interviews. The music and the rhythm were mentioned most often by the women practicing aerobics. The availability of the sport was a major factor for the tennis players. These were in contrast to the soccer players for whom the social aspect of the sport dominated. A theme that occurred across the different sports was related to physicality and to the use of the body. It is clear from the data that the women found that being physically active was positive and pleasurable, and that some of the findings challenge the norms of female physicality.
© 2023 Human Kinetics