Juggling on the court: exploring female Basque pelota players’ experiences and empowerment strategies

Abstract

This paper focuses on gendered experiences of sportswomen in a traditional male-dominated sport in the Basque Country, named Basque pelota. From the 1990s, women play in regular championships, occupying a central public space in the Basque culture and challenging the gender order. The aim of the study is to ascertain and comprehend the barriers these women face and how they manage to persist in this context. Ten indepth interviews were conducted with female Basque pelota players. Data were analysed through inductive codification. Players stressed being constantly obliged to face gender discrimination, feeling ‘undervalued’ and discriminated against as ‘outsiders’. Even so, they persist in this sport by their human agency, thanks to their empowerment, fighting spirit and determination to surpass discriminatory barriers. The sense of belonging and mutual support is fundamental in order to become fully involved and make a stand for a better future for women