Abstract

This paper focuses on part of a research project that considers women’s sports volunteering experiences. Specifically, we draw on interview data with four women boxing volunteers. Research focusing on boxing and gender has largely been preoccupied with the politics of women’s inclusion in competitive boxing, media coverage, and women boxers’ gendered identities. Less attention is given to women who volunteer within boxing clubs. Theoretically we use feminist-queer thinking, which challenges structural constraints whilst incorporating post-structural and queer deconstructive approaches towards understanding the gendered body. To re-present the women’s accounts we offer a story, ‘The boxing gym: A women’s volunteering story’, and discuss three themes: women as an exception in boxing; women having to prove themselves; and women’s sense of belonging within their boxing community. Our closing remarks highlight the precarious position of women volunteers in boxing and reiterate their role as pivotal constituents in sustaining the future of boxing communities.

摘要

本文重点介绍了一个研究项目的一部分，该项目考虑了女性体育志愿服务的经历。具体来说，我们利用了四名女性拳击志愿者的访谈数据。专注于拳击和性别的研究主要集中在女性参与竞争拳击、媒体报道和女性拳击手的性别身份的政治上。在拳击俱乐部做志愿者的女性受到的关注较少。从理论上讲，我们使用女权主义酷儿思维，挑战结构限制，同时结合后结构和酷儿解构方法来理解性别化的身体。为了重新呈现女性的账户，我们提供了一个故事，“拳击馆：女性志愿服务的故事”，并讨论三个主题：女性作为拳击的例外；女性必须证明自己；以及女性在拳击界的归属感。我们的闭幕词强调了女性志愿者在拳击界的不稳定地位，并重申了她们作为维持拳击社区未来的关键组成部分的作用。