"A Strong Woman of the Lord”: Performing Gender at the Intersection of Sport and Evangelical Christianity

Abstract

With the passing of Title IX women and girls began participating in athletics at all levels. Female Christian athletes were no exception as their entrance into the sports world mirrors their non-evangelical counterparts. Despite a large body of literature on the intersections of sport and Christianity as well as sport and gender, few scholars have examined the significance or impact of female Christians’ athletic participation. Therefore, this study focuses on how female Christian athletes in the largest and longest standing sports evangelical ministry, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), negotiate and perform gender as women and Christians. Through a content analysis of FCA Magazine between the years 1970 and 2013, I argue that male and female athletes are presented with gender complexity “on the field.” However, in their “off the field” roles as parents and spouses they most often conform to traditional gender norms. Female athletes in particular are encouraged to perform femininity and fulfill traditional gender roles in order to shore up heterosexuality. I analyzed interviews conducted with 22 female athletes and staff in FCA. I argue that these women are challenged with performing femininity, while at the same time not placing too much emphasis on their outward appearance. Despite these challenges female athletes in FCA are able to find acceptance and empowerment through their participation in sport. Finally, I analyze the inter-role conflict my interviewees experience as they fulfill their various responsibilities as wives, mothers, athletes, and paid laborers. One of the major strategies deployed by female staff and athletes in FCA is multitasking. Although multitasking can be stress inducing, these women engaged in positive forms of multitasking by combining their work and athletic pursuits with family, personal, and spiritual time, allowing them to find fulfilment despite the inter-role conflict they experienced.