Abstract
This study explores women’s experiences, embodiment, and gendered engagement as fans in professional virtual basketball in the metaverse by focusing on the W(NBA) and the NBA G-League events and environments. As digital platforms increasingly transform the way sports are consumed and experienced, this study explores how women navigate these virtual sports spaces in ways that reveal freedom and restriction. Drawing on digital feminist theory and claustropolitanism, the study critically examines how gender influences digital experience, embodiment and participation in immersive environments. A qualitative methodology is used, with autoethnography as a central approach to reflect on the researcher’s own experiences in the metaverse. This is complemented by three other methods. The walkthrough method is used to investigate user interface applications, such as entry into the platform, the daily activities and the exit process. Netnography supports the exploration of community dynamics and interactions between users within these virtual spaces. Semi-structured interviews provide a deeper insight into the personal narratives of other women and help to contextualise and broaden the autoethnographic perspective. Together, these methods provide a multi-layered understanding of women’s engagement in digital sport environments by placing personal experiences within broader social and cultural structures. By placing women’s voices and perspectives at the centre, the study contributes to ongoing discussions about gender, embodiment and inclusivity in virtual sport. The study invites reflection on how immersive technologies shape identity and social relationships and how sport in the metaverse can reinforce or resist gendered norms.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Sporting Cultures and Identities
KEYWORDS
METAVERSE, GENDER, EMBODIMENT, DIGITAL FEMINISM, CLAUSTROPOLITANISM, AUTOETHNOGRAPHY, NETNOGRAPHY, VIRTUAL SPORTS
