TOWARD A FEMINIST UNDERSTANDING OF PHYSICALITY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WOMENS PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND SPORTING LIVES

This paper offers a critical feminist review of how the notion of phys icality has been used within the sport sociology literature. Despite r ile lack of conceptual rigor associated with the term, and the tendenc y for physicality to be associated with men's spotting experiences, a discussion ensues regarding not only its viability as a concept when e xamining the physically active experiences of women, but also its impo rtance vis-ri-vis sport feminist research. A reconceptualization of ph ysicality is called for, and it is argued that our conceptual usage of it must be situationally specific. Drawing on research in progress, t he author sets out one particular way in which a concept of physicalit y, grounded in the physically active, bodily experiences of women, can be developed.