Girls' experiences of playing cricket: gender issues in participation

Abstract

The issues surrounding mixed gender and single gender participation in junior sport have not been addressed in the recent literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons that a group of nine to twelve year old girls participate in cricket, and how the gender composition of their teams affected their participation. Qualitative research methods enabled me to place the girls' experiences of cricket at the centre of my study, rather than my interpretation of their experiences. I conducted five semi-structured group interviews involving 21 girls who were currently participating in the Wellington Junior Cricket competition. I structured my groups so that I could compare the girls' experiences of mixed- gender and single-gender participation. The key findings of my research were: the importance of family, particularly fathers and brothers, and friends to girls' participation in cricket; the problems for participation that girls experience at school; and the importance of social factors and 'challenge' to their enjoyment and continued participation. There also appears to be advantages for many pre-adolescent girls in participating in girls-only grades, and that choices of mixed or single gender participation should be made available to them. This research has implications for junior cricket administrators in particular, and junior sports administrators in general, in the organisation and structure of their competitions.