Women, war and sport: the battle of the 2019 Solheim Cup

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Bowes, A. ORCID: 0000-0001-5635-106X, Bairner, A., Whigham, S. and Kitching, N., 2023. Women, war and sport: the battle of the 2019 Solheim Cup. In: M. Hurcombe and P. Dine, eds., Sport and the pursuit of war and peace from the nineteenth century to the present. War minus the shooting? London: Routledge, pp. 56-76. ISBN 9781003225355

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003225355-5

Abstract

One of the most significant and/or prevalent symbols of nationhood is to be found in the international (men's) sporting arena. Sport is often imbued with notions of national identity and war, although the sport of golf is generally devoid of flags and nationalistic tendencies and is thus often considered relatively insignificant in inculcating national sentiments – except in the exceptional cases of team golf events such as the Solheim Cup. This paper considers the way in which the competitors in the 2019 Solheim Cup were represented in the British print media. Results highlights that national identity is a key descriptor of the female competitors, legitimising their position in the battlefield of international sport. We conclude that, in an era of increasing significance of women’s sport, there exists an ideological space for women to be seen as 'proxy warriors' in sport.

Item Type:

Chapter in book

Creators:

Bowes, A., Bairner, A., Whigham, S. and Kitching, N.

Publisher:

Routledge

Place of Publication:

London

Date:

2023

ISBN:

9781003225355