Women's Veteran's Hockey: Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement

Chelsea Litchfield; Rylee Dionigi

Women's Veteran's Hockey

Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement

Research output: Other contribution to conference › Abstract

Abstract

The introduction of Masters and Veteran’s sport in the 1970s in Australia has provided space for women to participate in competitive individual and team sports as they age (Weir, Baker & Horton, 2010). Field hockey is one such sport played by middle-aged and older women. This qualitative research examined the role that Veteran’s hockey plays in women’s lives, in particular, what it means to be highly active, competitive and part of a team in later life. We interviewed 25 women (45 years and over) participating in the 2011 Hockey NSW Veteran’s Women's State Championships. The initial analysis has identified three common themes: competitiveness, ritual and entitlement. While this tournament was framed in participatory discourses, competition was important to these women. Simultaneously, social connections, team bonding rituals and fun were a significant part of Veteran’s hockey. In addition, these women expressed the right to play hockey and negotiated family and work commitments to attend this yearly event. These findings provide insight into personal and cultural meanings of being a highly active, older woman. Focusing on the stories and lived experiences of older sportswomen emphasises the ‘subjective, capable, female body’ and allows for alternative meanings of ageing, sport and gender to emerge.

Original language	English
Pages	127-127
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - 2011
Event	2011 TASA Conference - University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia Duration: 29 Nov 2011 → 01 Dec 2011 https://tasa.org.au/tasa-conference/past-tasa-conferences/2011-tasa-conference-2/conference-proceedings/ (TASA 2011 Conference Proceedings) https://tasa.org.au/tasa-conference/past-tasa-conferences/2011-tasa-conference-2/ (Event website)

Conference

Conference	2011 TASA Conference
Abbreviated title	Local Lives/Global Networks
Country	Australia
City	Newcastle
Period	29/11/11 → 01/12/11
Internet address	https://tasa.org.au/tasa-conference/past-tasa-conferences/2011-tasa-conference-2/conference-proceedings/ (TASA 2011 Conference Proceedings) https://tasa.org.au/tasa-conference/past-tasa-conferences/2011-tasa-conference-2/ (Event website)

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gender

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Cite this

Litchfield, C., & Dionigi, R. (2011). Women's Veteran's Hockey: Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement. 127-127. Abstract from 2011 TASA Conference, Newcastle, Australia.

Litchfield, Chelsea ; Dionigi, Rylee. / Women's Veteran's Hockey : Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement. Abstract from 2011 TASA Conference, Newcastle, Australia.1 p.

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title = "Women's Veteran's Hockey: Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement",

abstract = "The introduction of Masters and Veteran’s sport in the 1970s in Australia has provided space for women to participate in competitive individual and team sports as they age (Weir, Baker & Horton, 2010). Field hockey is one such sport played by middle-aged and older women. This qualitative research examined the role that Veteran’s hockey plays in women’s lives, in particular, what it means to be highly active, competitive and part of a team in later life. We interviewed 25 women (45 years and over) participating in the 2011 Hockey NSW Veteran’s Women's State Championships. The initial analysis has identified three common themes: competitiveness, ritual and entitlement. While this tournament was framed in participatory discourses, competition was important to these women. Simultaneously, social connections, team bonding rituals and fun were a significant part of Veteran’s hockey. In addition, these women expressed the right to play hockey and negotiated family and work commitments to attend this yearly event. These findings provide insight into personal and cultural meanings of being a highly active, older woman. Focusing on the stories and lived experiences of older sportswomen emphasises the ‘subjective, capable, female body’ and allows for alternative meanings of ageing, sport and gender to emerge.",

author = "Chelsea Litchfield and Rylee Dionigi",

note = "Imported on 03 May 2017 - DigiTool details were: publisher = 2011. Event dates (773o) = December, 2011; Parent title (773t) = The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Conference.; 2011 TASA Conference, Local Lives/Global Networks ; Conference date: 29-11-2011 Through 01-12-2011",

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pages = "127--127",

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Litchfield, C & Dionigi, R 2011, 'Women's Veteran's Hockey: Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement' 2011 TASA Conference, Newcastle, Australia, 29/11/11 - 01/12/11, pp. 127-127.

Women's Veteran's Hockey : Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement. / Litchfield, Chelsea ; Dionigi, Rylee.

2011. 127-127 Abstract from 2011 TASA Conference, Newcastle, Australia.

Research output: Other contribution to conference › Abstract

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T1 - Women's Veteran's Hockey

T2 - Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement

AU - Litchfield, Chelsea

AU - Dionigi, Rylee

N1 - Imported on 03 May 2017 - DigiTool details were: publisher = 2011. Event dates (773o) = December, 2011; Parent title (773t) = The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Conference.

PY - 2011

Y1 - 2011

N2 - The introduction of Masters and Veteran’s sport in the 1970s in Australia has provided space for women to participate in competitive individual and team sports as they age (Weir, Baker & Horton, 2010). Field hockey is one such sport played by middle-aged and older women. This qualitative research examined the role that Veteran’s hockey plays in women’s lives, in particular, what it means to be highly active, competitive and part of a team in later life. We interviewed 25 women (45 years and over) participating in the 2011 Hockey NSW Veteran’s Women's State Championships. The initial analysis has identified three common themes: competitiveness, ritual and entitlement. While this tournament was framed in participatory discourses, competition was important to these women. Simultaneously, social connections, team bonding rituals and fun were a significant part of Veteran’s hockey. In addition, these women expressed the right to play hockey and negotiated family and work commitments to attend this yearly event. These findings provide insight into personal and cultural meanings of being a highly active, older woman. Focusing on the stories and lived experiences of older sportswomen emphasises the ‘subjective, capable, female body’ and allows for alternative meanings of ageing, sport and gender to emerge.

AB - The introduction of Masters and Veteran’s sport in the 1970s in Australia has provided space for women to participate in competitive individual and team sports as they age (Weir, Baker & Horton, 2010). Field hockey is one such sport played by middle-aged and older women. This qualitative research examined the role that Veteran’s hockey plays in women’s lives, in particular, what it means to be highly active, competitive and part of a team in later life. We interviewed 25 women (45 years and over) participating in the 2011 Hockey NSW Veteran’s Women's State Championships. The initial analysis has identified three common themes: competitiveness, ritual and entitlement. While this tournament was framed in participatory discourses, competition was important to these women. Simultaneously, social connections, team bonding rituals and fun were a significant part of Veteran’s hockey. In addition, these women expressed the right to play hockey and negotiated family and work commitments to attend this yearly event. These findings provide insight into personal and cultural meanings of being a highly active, older woman. Focusing on the stories and lived experiences of older sportswomen emphasises the ‘subjective, capable, female body’ and allows for alternative meanings of ageing, sport and gender to emerge.

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Litchfield C , Dionigi R. Women's Veteran's Hockey: Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement. 2011. Abstract from 2011 TASA Conference, Newcastle, Australia.