Female Sporting Revolution
What impacts Females within Combat sports?
Figure 1
Contents 04
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Figures list
Methodology
Introduction
Primary Research Findings
06 08
Literature Review 08 - What are Combat ........... .........sports? 10 - Accepting females into .........the Combat sports .........setting. 14 - Media Coverage and it’s ........ impacts. 18 - Brands taking interest in ........ sportswomen.
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22 -Male influence on .... ..Females in Combat ... ....... .......Sports.
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26 - Fighting like a girl. 28 - Fighter ego. 32 - Impacts in training. 36 - What will get females ........involved? 38 - Designing for Females or .........both genders? 40 - What is Combat Sports .........to them?
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Conclusion
44 Design Brief
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References
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Appendix 50 - Appendix 1: ........Ethics Forms 52 - Appendix 2: ........Interviews 58- Appendix 3: .......Product Testing 62- Appendix 4: .......Consent Forms
Figures List Fig. 1 MATHIAS VEJERSLEV, 2x world Muay Thai champion Lea Pedersen sparring at CPH Muay Tha [online]. . Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mvejerslev/37912058946 [Accessed 20/05/ 2020]. Fig 2. SPORTS, Y., et al., 2016. 7 Ways Muay Thai Helps Women Get Into The Best Shape Ever Evolve Daily [online]. . Available at: https://evolve-mma.com/blog/7-ways-muay-thai-helps-women-get-into-the-best-shape-ever/ [Accessed May 20, 2020]. Fig. 3 Top 45 Nelson Mandela Quotes to Inspire You to Believe2017. [online]. . Available at: https:// www.goalcast.com/2017/05/02/top-nelson-mandela-quotes-inspire-you-to-believe/ [Accessed May 20, 2020]. Fig. 4 Nicola Adams Ring sidec. [online]. . Available at: https://www.insanitygroup.com/client/nicola-adams/ [Accessed 20/05/20 . Fig. 5 Nicola Adams training. [online]. Available at: https://www.christopherterry.com/people/4 [Accessed 20/05/ 2020]. Fig. 6 RAYMOND, A.K., Ronda Rousey Asks for More Time Off, Will Miss UFC 200 [online]. . Available at: https://www.maxim.com/entertainment/ronda-rousey-skipping-ufc-200 [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 7 BTSPORT, Nicola adams [online]. . Available at: https://twitter.com/NicolaAdamsOBE/status/981918475928059904/photo/1 [Accessed 20/05/ 2020]. Fig. 8 SMITH, J., 2019. Adidas Launches Campaign for Equal Media Representation in Sport [online]. . Available at: https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a26786261/adidas-she-breaks-barriers/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 9 ISKENDEROV, P., 2020. Stamp Fairtex defeats Puja Tomar in MMA bout. Available at: https:// mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/01/one-championship-106-a-new-tomorrow-live-results [Accessed May 20, 2020)
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Fig. 10 Nationally Registered Fighters (Australia) | Fighters, Trainers & Promotersb. [online]. . Available at: https://www.nrfaustralia.com.au/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 11 Brooke Farrell | Muay Thai | Awakening Fightersa. [online]. . Available at: https://www.awakeningfighters.com/athletes/brooke-farrell/ [Accessed 20/05/ 2020]. Fig.12 Global fight photography, 2019. Thailand. Instagram. Lana Vanaga Fig. 13 Congrats to TMT Fighter Brooke Farrell to the unanimous decision win at Rebellion Muay Thai in Australia2018. [online]. . Available at: https://www.tigermuaythai.com/congrats-to-tmt-fighterbrooke-farrell-to-the-unanimous-decision-win-at-rebellion-muay-thai-in-australia [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 14 prepping for the world stagee. [online]. . Available at: http://www.dynamitemuaythai.com/home/ news/ [Accessed 20/05/ 2020] Fig. 15 DUTY, O., 2019. Muay Thai: Training For Kickass Women [online]. . Available at: https://ondutymagazine.com/muay-thai-training-for-kickass-women/ [Accessed May 20, 2020]. Fig. 16 What It’s Like to Train with Thailand’s Women of Muay Thai2019. [online]. . Available at: http:// discovery.cathaypacific.com/thailands-women-muay-thai/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 17 7 Reasons Why Bodyweight Training Is Perfect for Women on the Go2017. [online]. . Available at: https://www.runtastic.com/blog/en/7-reasons-why-bodyweight-training-is-perfect-for-women-on-the-go/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 18 Koh Samui Muay Thai Gym [online]. . Available at: https://jackiemuaythaisamui.com/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Fig. 19 Global fight photography, 2018. Reem Alhashmi Fight. Facebook. Reem AlHashmi
Introduction
The chosen trend for this project was “Female sporting revolution� (Future 100, 2020), focusing specifically on combat sports. The overall aim of this report is to uncover what can impact a female’s influence within combative sports. The literature review will investigate the journey made by females within the sport, it will also analyse Media impacts, Brand impacts and Gender impacts that these fighters can encounter. By uncovering this, a further analysis of how to encourage people to join the sport will be made. It is important to discover what challenges female participants face, in order to know why others, deter from the sport. Interviews with female fighters/trainers will also be carried out, to gain insight into the culture and to examine any potential product Impacts. The overall findings will be used to lead this project, in order to make combat sports more inclusive.
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Figure 2
Literature Revie What is Combat sports?
Combat sports is a one to one contact sport. For example, this can refer to MMA, Muay Thai, Kickboxing or Boxing. Each sport has a set of engagement rules and each combatant will aim to gain points to declare a winner. These sports, especially Boxing have been labelled as “female inappropriate” sports (Matteo, 1986), this has hindered female participation when in fact the brutish sports can introduce Discipline, Respect, Confidence and further benefits to physical and mental health (Peters, 2018). If sport has the power to “unite people” (Nelson Mandela), then the gap between genders should be tackled. As It stands some females fighters may receive limited respect from their male counterparts in the sport setting. Lafferty and McKay (2004) state women will always be seen to “fight like a girl”, this phrase could put women off the sport. If the phrase “fight like a girl” had a different meaning it could make the sport more inclusive.
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“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.” — Nelson Mandela
Figure 3
Literature Revie Accepting females into the Combat Sport setting
A fighter’s influence can be impacted by the image they portray. Davies and Deckert (2019) deploy the “pretty imperative� (Davies and Hardjuno, 2015) concept to examine how strength and beauty are used in relation to female fighters. This concept can be applied to 2012, the year the Ultimate Fighting Companionship (UFC), signed Ronda Rousey, their first female competitor and the first-year females could competitively box in the 2012 Olympic Games. The coverage of female Combat sports has always taken a pretty approach, this is because it challenges gender norms. This notion can also be applied to the unsuccessful argument that was made for whether women should fight in skirts or shorts for the 2012 Olympic Games. Officials were worried that the women would get confused for their male equivalents (Plank, 2012). This Implies society separates genders in sports, meaning design within this category should not aim to segregate.
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Figure 4
Continued
Godoy-Pressland (2015) states that the “AIBA’s skirt suggestion highlights perceived female weakness”. This perceived weakness could be the outcome of the “pretty imperative” concept, it derives from an exploration into Indonesian policewomen needing to be pretty to progress in their role (Davies & Hardjonoa, 2015). Furthermore, Godoy-Pressland (2015) stated that sportwomen are often separated from men by emphasising their femininity. However, it could be argued since fighting subcultures are largely dominated by men, female fighters are more likely to conform to masculine cultural norms to reaffirm their athletic identity (Hughes and Coakley, 1991).
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Figure 5
Literature Revie Media coverage and its impact
“Ronda Rousey put hot, steamy meat in her mouth to celebrate her UFC 157 victory over Liz Carmouche. Rousey had apparently been craving tender, juicy meat throughout her training camp, but she wasn’t allowed to indulge because she had to worry about contractual weight requirements. Once the ‘W’ was secured and the fight was over, Rousey was finally able to suck on some delicious bones, as her camp explained that she feasted in her private hotel room following UFC 157.” – Eric Holden, Journalist Weaving (2013) uses this quote to emphasise how gender is constructed around women UFC fighters. This sexualised description of Ronda Rousey could be the outcome of the “pretty imperative”. Rousey has been described as “beautiful on the outside but she’s a Diaz brother on the inside” by the UFC President, Dana White (Davidson, 2012) this demonstrates how even the first UFC female fighter is still judged based upon her looks (Weaving, 2013). This representation could be tackled with a greater female influence.
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Figure 6
Continued
‘like their bodybuilding and wrestling sisters, women boxers have to learn how to manage their deviant status in society’ (Lafferty and McKay, 2004, p. 254). Nicola Adams is a professional boxer, she was vocal on issues around gender equality in sports post-2012 Olympics. Godoy-Pressland (2015) suggests how Adams can mould her own media representation, further implying that females are beginning to “manage their deviant status in society”. Adams ability to change her image in the media could be due to her conforming to the male cultural norms within the sport, as “violence is often the single most evident marker of manhood” (Kimmel, 1994). Looks may be at the forefront of media coverage but as the sports begin to gain popularity so do the fighters, ergo, giving them a platform. However, this does suggest fighters have to climb the professional ladder to have a greater impact. Is there something that could be altered during the training stages to allow fighters to utilise this platform quicker?
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Figure 7
Literature Revie Brands taking an interest in Sportswomen
Figure 7
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“The Future 100,” is an annual report forecasting what trends are in store for 2020. The Wunderman Thompson Intelligence (2020) analyse the “Female sporting revolution” which sheds light on female influence in sports. “Rising interest in professional female athletes is changing the game for women in sports—they are becoming global influencers, role models for the next generation, and prompting a shift in representation.” - Wander Thompson Intelligence Due to an increase in popularity in Women’s sporting competitions, there is also an increase in sponsorship deals (Wander Thompson Intelligence, 2020), therefore allowing these athletes to create influence. As “women’s sports move into the limelight, high-profile instances of gender bias in pay and treatment” come into the public eye (Wander Thompson Intelligence, 2020) thus allowing a bigger platform for sportswomen.
Continued “The world of female martial artists is growing. Fairtex is proud to be part of that growth as we push emerging female athletes and maintain our status as the top combat sports manufacturer and training center in the world” - Fairtex Stamp Fairtex began the wave of this brand sponsoring female fighters. Stamp is a ONE Championship’s Atomweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai star (Fairtex, 2019) and a perfect example of a fighter who uses her platform to influence others, as Stamp “seeks to inspire young female fighters by becoming a three-sport champion” (Taylor, 2019). It is interesting to see Stamp using her fighting ability to create inspiration, it begs the question of can training affect her influence? Nevertheless, the increase in support from branding gives these fighters a voice. However, if this trend lessens, will the brand’s support of women also decrease? Does this, therefore, suggest a need for an inclusive brand, to ensure their positive impact continues?
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“I want to be a champion. Not only a champion, but an inspiration to everyone.� - Stamp Fairtex, 2019
Figure 8
Literature Revie Male influence on Females in Combat sports Combat sports have been labelled as male dominate sports, this therefore has an impact on females involved. Godoy-pressland (2015) suggests female professional fighters’ success is attributed to a male influence. Harris and Clayton (2002) explain how a reference to dominate males’ figures are commonly made in reports on sportswomen. Adam’s father was credited to her success, although it was her mother who took Adams to her first boxing gym (Godoy-pressland, 2015). Adams success should therefore be attributed to her mother, Denver Adams, further implying the media attempts to conform sportswoman to typical stereotypes of needing a man. However, an argument can be made that a female influence, holds a greater presence in terms of encouraging others to join sports. With Combat sports being so heavily influenced by males, it is interesting to discover if products surrounding the sports are also impacted. Are they inclusive for females and could they impact those involved in the sport? With males being credited to a female’s success this does beg the question of whether males aid or hinder females’ progression.
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Figure 9
Methodology Interviews
Interviews were conducted with 5 female fighters/trainers (Appendix two), this demographic was the focus of this research because the aim was to determine what impacts females within Combative sports. It was also crucial to figure out what could encourage others to join. The interviewees were initially asked 11 questions, however, as the interviews progressed new questions emerged (Appendix two) these new questions were also asked to the previous interviewees that were available, to ensure the results could be compared. Interviews are the chosen method of research, as they will give a deeper insight into the sport compared to a survey.
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Figure 10
Findings Fight like a girl
Figure 11
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The interviews provided insight into how female fighters feel within the Combat sport setting. Previously, within this report, it was stated these fighters will always be seen to “fight like a girl” (Lafferty and McKay, 2004). It was interesting to discover how this phrase impacted the participants. All responses (5/5) suggest displeasure when hearing it. Some responses spark interest, Lana Vanaga states, “It makes me smile”... “I used to be very annoyed with it”. Due to her knowing “what it takes to be in that ring” it makes less of an impact. Her opinion is, “yeah, yeah I do because yeah I am a girl and yeah I f*cking fight and I have balls to do it, what about you?” (Lana Vanaga, 2020), being a “girl” does not make Vanaga a lesser. Vanaga goes on to discuss how she feels lucky because of the attitude of her male trainer “I am fortunate to be trained by lee because lee doesn’t take that b*llshit” (Lana Vanaga, 2020). Reem AlHasmi makes a similar reference to her male trainer, showing that a supportive male presence can have positive impacts. These responses can suggest how gender separation could have a detrimental effect on the progression of females within the sport.
Findings Fighter ego
Figure 12
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Furthermore, Ash Maloney (Self-defence instructor within the Metropolitan police) currently studies psychotherapy, making a discussion about male ego enlightening. Maloneys’ opinion on ego is, the ego will “make you make mistakes”... “in the right situation you need the ego, you need the ego to carry you through” (Ash Maloney, 2020). Leading on from this, in some cases, the male ego can deter females from the sport. However, it can be argued that male ego is needed, Maloney analysed an event, “if he had not en-flamed your ego, would you have done as many laps” up until that point of him questioning your ability, you “didn’t have anything to prove”... “that’s a red rag to a bull”. A males ego can en-flame a females ego, to push herself twice as hard, Maloney goes on to say “why is that a bad thing it’s a motivator, it’s a motivator and it does make you better and it does make you compete” (Ash Maloney, 2020).
Continued
In terms of gender separation, Maloney says, “always surround yourself with people who are better than you” “if you don’t you remain stagnant, you don’t learn, you don’t thrive, you don’t want to do better” (Ash Maloney, 2020) Combining both genders within training helps both grow equally. As Vanaga states “we shouldn’t be competing with each other, we should be supporting and learning from each other” ( Lana Vanaga, 2020). Thus, suggesting a product or service made for Combat sports should not aim to segregate, it should be inclusive.
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Figure 13
Findings Impacts in training
Figure 14
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When questioned, the interviewees shed light on the issues with training gear. Karolina Palega states the gear can be “more hurtful then actually protecting you” (Karolina Palega, 2020) It was suggested some gear can be too loose or too tight, causing issues both ways. Any new gear needs “the balance between” these problems (Isabella Palmer, 2020), possibly showing a gap in the market. Furthermore, Alhasmi states “yes I am a small fighter but there are fighters, female fighters who are bigger than me”... “we always complain about that” (Reem AlHashmi, 2020), referring to gear not fitting. Alhasmi studies a PhD in Sport sociology, her PhD has allowed her to interview fighters and visit gyms, potentially giving her a vast amount of insight into the wants and needs of fighters.
Continued
An argument can be made that the gear not fitting correctly can be intimidating for those who are a novice in the sport. Furthermore, this gear can also impact those with years of experience. An example of this would be how Vanaga finds it “frustrating when you can’t hold pads for someone properly”... “It’s frustrating for me, it’s frustrating for that person” (Lana Vanaga, 2020). This can suggest the issue with training gear can affect all involved in the sport, if someone cannot train properly due to the gear, progress in training is slower. Product testing was conducted after these interviews, this testing was done with someone who has experience in the sport and a novice in the sport. Both had similar issues, enforcing the idea of this impacting all (Appendix Three).
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Figure 15
Findings What will get females involved
Figure 17
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When discussing what would encourage females to join combat sports, different suggestions were made. Most correlate with the idea of using social media, branding and promotions. Maloney suggests how influential fighters are beneficial but “unless you’re involved in combative sports you are not going to be linked up with MMA fighters, female MMA fighters” (Ash Maloney, 2020). Palega suggests if fighters are not on a certain professional level, they might make less impact (Karolina Palega, 2020). Meaning tweaks within the sport could encourage others to join. In contrast to this AlHashmi suggests a change in equipment will be more encouraging, “most of them look ugly”... “ I am not saying pretty as in like, yanno make them look girly” she further says “if it is for females there has to be some kind of really obnoxious pink or polka dots or flowers” (Reem AlHashmi, 2020) this enforces a notion made within this report, how emphasising fighters femininity creates separation.
Findings Designing for Females or both genders
Figure 18
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The majority suggests the outcome should not be gender-specific as “the sport is for everyone” (Reem Alhasmi, 2020) It would make training difficult, “what is the point in having a women’s only pads” (Reem Alhasmi, 2020). Vanaga also makes a point that the aim should not be “to make the gender gap in sport even bigger” (Lana Vanaga, 2020). In contrast to this Maloney suggest, there should be a brand for just females, as males have enough. Other references were made to how females gear is stereotypical, when discussing female gloves Palega says “why are they always pink”, people tend to think “girls, pink, cute”... “they won’t make any damage anyway, so why not give them a pink gentle soft glove?” (Karolina Palega, 2020) this can be patronising. Enforcing the idea that the outcome should have no gender-specific appearance. The product or service could be influenced by females but work for everyone.
Findings What is Combat sports to them?
Finally, the participants were asked, what is combat sports to you? This question was at the end because the interviewees would be more open to answering such a personal question. Each participant varied in response but 4 specific words were mentioned by the majority. Combat sports to them is a “Community”, “Discipline”, “Respect” and a “Way of life” (Appendix two). Vanaga gives the perfect example of why it is crucial to introduce combat sports to the majority “I truly believe, this sport makes me a better person”... “people need to do it more, as simple as that” (Lana Vanaga, 2020), this mean the sport must abolish the negative stigmas it has, to show “how beneficial it can be, both physically and mentally” (Lana Vanaga, 2020). Introducing these sports to the majority could make a greater impact then intended, however, it can only do this if it is inclusive for all.
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Figure 19
Conclusion To conclude, this report has proven representation of females within combat sports can have vast impacts on those wishing to be involved. Its lack of inclusivity for females is shown through past media representation and poor product design. Cultural norms within the sport have been influenced by males however, as the female presence begins to grow, these norms begin to change. Brands increased support of sportswomen enables this change. The Primary research further enforces these notions, the research has also uncovered a potential gap in the market, as no training gear is inclusive for females and alterations should be made to cater to them. This leads to how the products produced should not encourage segregation. The outcome may be influenced by females, but the aim should still be inclusivity for all. Promotion and the use of social media should also be considered, to tackle the combative sports stigmas. This could further suggest the need for a brand, which empowers women but does not alienate.
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Design Brief
To design a range of training products that make combat sports more inclusive for Women. The products should not segregate potential users, it should consider the ergonomics of multiple individuals. To be successful, it should be visually appealing, to diminish any intimidation for novice participants. Furthermore, the outcome must be able to perform it’s given task successfully while tackling issues highlighted within the research. Finally, there needs to be a consideration for the image the products portray, this could be boosted via promotional means.
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Word Count 2094
References Davidson, N. 2012. Newly crowned champ Ronda Rousey to be part of the firstwomen’s UFC bout. The Globe and Mail, December 6. in Global Perspectives on Women in Combat Sports : Women Warriors Around the World, edited by Christopher R. Matthews, and Alex Channon, Palgrave Macmillan Limited, 2015., pp 57-72. Available: ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral. proquest.com/lib/ntuuk/detail.action?docID=4008693. Davies, S.G., & Hardjono, V. (2015). The pretty imperative: Handcuffing policewomen in Indonesia. Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, 37, Retrieved from http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue37/davies_hartono. htm Fairtex Female Fighters Taking Over The World [online]. . Available at: https:// www.fairtex.com/blog/fairtex-female-fighters-taking-over-the-world/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Global Perspectives on Women in Combat Sports : Women Warriors Around the World, edited by Christopher R. Matthews, and Alex Channon, Palgrave Macmillan Limited, 2015. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ntuuk/detail.action?docID=4008693. Created from ntuuk on 2020-05-06 10:32:24. Godoy-pressland, A., 2015. ‘Moral Guardians, Miniskirts andNicola Adams: The Changing Media Discourse on Women’s Boxing’, in Global Perspectives on Women in Combat Sports : Women Warriors Around the World, edited by Christopher R. Matthews, and Alex Channon, Palgrave Macmillan Limited, 2015., pp 25-40. Available: ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ntuuk/detail.action?docID=4008693.
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Harris, J. and Clayton, B. (2002) Femininity, masculinity, physicality and the English tabloid press: The case of Anna Kournikova. International Review for the Sociology of Sport , 37(3– 4), 397– 413. Hickman, N., 2012. Nicola Adams shuffles to front of pack [online]. . Available at: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/olympics/338557/Nicola-Adams-shufflesto-front-of-pack [Accessed May 21, 2020]. HOLDEN, E. 2013. Ronda Rousey put hot meat in her mouth to celebrate UFC 157 victory. Examiner, February 27. http://middleeasy.com/index. php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10403:this-is-the-stupidest-ronda-rousey-articleweve-ever-seen&catid=34:organizationshttp://middleeasy. com/index.php?option= com_content&view=article&id=10403:this-is-the-stupidest-ronda-rouseyarticle-weve-ever-seen&catid=34:organizations (accessed April 7, 2020). Hughes and Coakley. 1991. Positive Deviance among Athletes: The Implicationsof Over Conformity to the Sports ethic. Available at: https://www. researchgate.net/publication/306053322_Positive_Deviance_among_Athletes_The_Implications_of_Over_Conformity_to_the_Sports_Ethic/link/5a734f20aca2720bc0dbb806/download Jedrzejczyk hospitalised after brutal facial injuries at UFC 2482020. [online]. . Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/mma/ufc-248-joanna-jedrzejczyk-weili-zhang-hospital-injuries-israel-adesanya-a9385181.html [Accessed May 21, 2020].
Continued Kimmel, M.S. (1994) Masculinity as homophobia: Fear, shame, and silence in the construction of gender identity. In H. Brod and M. Kauffman (Eds.) Theorizing Masculinities . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, pp.119– 141. Lafferty, Y. and McKay, J. (2004) ‘Suffragettes in satin shorts’? Gender and competitive boxing. Qualitative Sociology , 273, 249– 276. Matteo, S. (1986) The effect of gender-schematic processing on sports participation. Sex Roles , 15(7– 8), 417– 432. Nelson Mandela Quote: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that lit...” [online]. . Available at: https://quotefancy.com/quote/874389/Nelson-Mandela-Sporthas-the-power-to-change-the-world-It-has-the-power-to-inspire-It-has [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Plank, E. (2012). Female boxing: Forced to wear a skirt? Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/female-boxingforcedto-wear-a-skirt_b_1213103.html TAYLOR, T., 2019. EXCLUSIVE | Stamp Fairtex seeks to inspire young female fighters by becoming three-sport champion | BJPenn.com [online]. . Available at: https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/exclusive-interviews/exclusive-stampfairtex-seeks-to-inspire-young-female-fighters-by-becoming-three-sport-champion/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. The Benefits of Combat Sports2018. [online]. . Available at: https://goodmenproject.com/sports/the-benefits-of-combat-sports-spnsr/ [Accessed May 21, 2020]. Weaving, C., 2013 Cage Fighting like a Girl: Exploring gender construction in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Global Perspectives on Women in Combat Sports : Women Warriors Around the World, edited by Christopher R. Matthews, and Alex Channon, Palgrave Macmillan Limited, 2015., pp 57-
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72. Available: ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ ntuuk/detail.action?docID=4008693. Velija, P., Mierzwinski, M., Fortune, L., 2013. 'It made me feel powerful': women's gendered embodiment and physical empowerment in the martial arts [online]. Leisure Studies, 32(5), pp.524–541. Available at: http://www.tandfonline. com/doi/abs/10.1080/02614367.2012.696128. Wunderman Thompson intelligence, 2020. The Future 100: 2020 Trends and change to watch in 2020 (online). Google: wunderman Thompson Intelligence. Available at: https://intelligence.wundermanthompson.com/trend-reports/ the-future-100-2020/ YOUNG, I.M. 2005. On female body experience: Throwing like a girl and other essays.New York: Oxford University Press.
Appendix One Ethics Form
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Appendix Two Interviews Questions How did you get involved in combat sport? - Did anyone inspire you to do so? Are you inspired by any female fighters? - Ronda Rousey, Stamp Fairtex/ Professional fighters that are well known? Do you feel there is a need for more female influence in combat sports? - Why is this? What do you feel when someone says “Fight like a girl”? Can you describe what makes a good training session? Can you tell me what type of gear you use while training? Is there a specific brand you prefer? - Why is that? Do you have any issues with these products? Do you think these products are catered for females? - Some people I have spoken to suggest the gear can be uncomfortable because it doesn’t fit etc. If you had the chance to design your own training gear (pads) what would you change? Finally, What is combat sports to you?
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Extra Questions Brands are taking more of an interest in Females, what is your opinion on this? - example... Stamp Fairtex and the Fairtex brand. How could i get females more involved in the sport, in your opinion? How are females in combat sports viewed? Should i design kit for male and females or just females? - What could happen?
Continued Quotes Palmer, I., 2020. Student: Zoom call with Meghan Geraghty, Northumberland, 21 April. “the balance between” Vanaga, L., 2020. Muay Thai Fighter: Telephone conversation with Meghan Geraghty, Northumberland, 28 April. “It makes me smile” “I used to be very annoyed with it” “what it takes to be in that ring” “yeah, yeah I do because yeah I am a girl and yeah I f*cking fight and I have balls to do it, what about you?” “I am fortunate to be trained by lee because lee doesn’t take that b*llshit” “we shouldn’t be competing with each other, we should be supporting and learning from each other” “frustrating when you can’t hold pads for someone properly” “It’s frustrating for me, it’s frustrating for that person” “to make the gender gap in sport even bigger” “I truly believe, this sport makes me a better person” “people need to do it more, as simple as that” “how beneficial it can be, both physically and mentally”
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Maloney, A., 2020. Officer Safety Instructor: Telephone conversation with Meghan Geraghty, Northumberland, 27 April. “make you make mistakes” “in the right situation you need the ego, you need the ego to carry you through” “if he had not enflamed your ego, would you have done as many laps” “didn’t have anything to prove” “that’s a red rag to a bull”. “why is that a bad thing it’s a motivator, it’s a motivator and it does make you better and it does make you compete” “always surround yourself with people who are better than you” “if you don’t you remain stagnant, you don’t learn, you don’t thrive, you don’t want to do better” “unless you’re involved in combative sports you are not going to be linked up with MMA fighters, female MMA fighters”
Palega, K., 2020. Student/Muay Thai Fighter: Telephone conversation with Meghan Geraghty, Northumberland, 28 April. “more hurtful then actually protecting you” “why are they always pink” “girls, pink, cute” “they won’t make any damage anyway, so why not give them a pink gentle soft glove?”
Continued Quotes
AlHashmi, R., 2020. PhD Student/Muay Thai Fighter: Zoom call with Meghan Geraghty, Northumberland, 29 April. “yes I am a small fighter but there are fighters, female fighters who are bigger than me” “we always complain about that” “most of them look ugly” “ I am not saying pretty as in like, yanno make them look girly” “if it is for females there has to be some kind of really obnoxious pink or polka dots or flowers” “the sport is for everyone” It would make training difficult, “what is the point in having a women’s only pads” Tooke, J., 2020. Student: MS Team call with Meghan Geraghty, Northumberland, 29 April. (side interview, not mentioned as only one intevriew was caried out)
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Interview Audio files and analysis have been uploaded with this submission.
Appendix Three Product testing Conducted with Meghan Geraghty and Aaron Geraghty
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e
Continued Conducted with Meghan Geraghty and Aaron Geraghty
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Appendix Four Consent Forms
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