Abstract
Despite the growing body of research on football fandom, the experiences of female fans from minority communities in Europe remain largely overlooked. Their underrepresentation in football fan cultures is often explained through stereotypical narratives that attribute this absence to the cultural norms of their communities. Drawing on theories of borderlands and transnational feminism, this study critically explores the experiences of four female football fans with Middle Eastern backgrounds living in Sweden. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that, with the exception of one woman born in Sweden, the participants do not find Swedish football emotionally or financially worth investing in. Moreover, the intersection of migration and gender positions them within unique social and emotional borderlands, where participating in Swedish fan culture demands a form of labour that clashes with their lived realities and priorities. Nonetheless, these women express a strong love for football and situate themselves within global football fandom, even as they remain excluded from the local Swedish fan scene. By dismantling prevailing stereotypes, this research underscores the need for deeper inquiry into the nuanced experiences of minoritised women in sport fandom.
Presenters
Sepandarmaz MashreghiPostdoc, Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Sporting Cultures and Identities
KEYWORDS
Decolonial, Migrant women, Fandom
