Between racism and sexism, the case of female soccer players. An intercultural and gender based pedagogical reflection

Abstract

The contribution aims to highlight the discrimination, often intersectional, between sexism, racism, homophobia, present in the world of football against athletes who practice this sport. In particular, it examines the media representations of women's football and those who animate it, the episodes of racism that characterize the entire Italian football scene and an institutional and legal dimension that penalizes women dedicated to sport, even at the highest levels. The study develops from a perspective that intersects intercultural and gender pedagogy, in order to articulate an analysis that can bring out and address multiple forms of discrimination. At present, the figure of the footballer, especially in the Italian context, brings to light the aggressive consequences of violating the taboo of the strong sex: football is not a sport for ladies. The phenomenon reveals the history of discrimination, which could appear to be a trifle when compared with the dramatic conditions suffered by women in so many contexts, but which is a blatant example of multiple discrimination that makes aversion to women an exclusion by law.