The over-representation of gay women in the sport is widely accepted but rarely questioned. Studies have reported an over-representation of lesbian and bisexual players at every ability level in the UK. This is hard to miss. In recent years, high-profile footballers in the UK, and the US especially, have been vocal and unforgiving about their sexuality , often commenting on the prevalence of gay women on their team.
Around 1. This prevalence of gay women in football has been the case for a long time, too. Generally, this is put down to engrained gender expectations and how sport functions in society. It is impossible to claim any one theory as fact; identities are multi-layered, culture is complex and sexualities are not binary.
Footballing spaces can offer marginalised identities a sanctity in sport which can enable players to reject overriding notions of heterosexuality. Historically, participating in a contact sport within a previously male-dominated arena is breaking convention already.
Gender and sexuality theorists argue that not complying with orthodox rules regarding femininity, and using the physical body for power, strength and skill, provokes visions of masculinity, and therefore homosexuality. The way that single-sex groups socialise within teams is influential. Player populations often rely on off-pitch activities to protect and expect homosexuality. Studies have noted that drinking games, singing songs and trying to impress established members of the team all play a part in how, when and why female footballers express their sexuality.
There have also been casual links between positions of responsibility, time spent around teammates and homosexuality. This suggests that perhaps upholding club values and socialising with the team more often could influence how a player identifies their sexuality. As previously mentioned, none of this research can be taken as fact. Moreover, football should not be viewed purely as a vehicle for women to express their sexuality, however, when discussing the history and culture of the sport, it cannot be dismissed.
