THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY

This thesis explores the experiences of women who have chosen to participate in amateur football (known in Australia as soccer). It investigates and interprets effects of individual experiences and perceptions of sport for women amateur football players on their identities. The present research proposes that women's exposure to sporting experience as players has an influence on their identities both within and outside the sporting arena. The arguments for this position are explored using local narrative which details the nature of women's experiences of sports and their ever-changing identities. To understand these experiences it is important to locate them within a foundation of historical context which traces the history of football, the involvement of women in sports, the development of women's football in significant countries and the journey of the game of women's football in Australia. With this information about the historical journey of women's sport and football it is simpler to examine the current effect of the sport on identity. Theories of identity, gender and sports are analysed. The theoretical perspective taken in this thesis builds on feminist ideologies and an interactionist approach to understanding women and their experiences. Analysis is undertaken using sport as a site of selfdiscovery and identity building best understood through investigation of women's individual experiences. This thesis uses qualitative research with in-depth interviews, participant observation and reflexivity to investigate the research proposition. Interviews with thirteen amateur women football players were undertaken to investigate their thoughts, feelings and perceptions, and consequently information was collected about sporting experiences, perceptions and effects on identity. This was combined with participant observation to assist in giving context and clarity to the exploration. Finally, reflexivity was engaged to provide an added measure of triangulation to the study. The thesis analyses the data as it relates to the experiences of identity change and

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