The challenges remain: A 'new' view of old perspectives on the history of women's football in Australia

• Published in: Social alternatives 2018-01, Vol.37 (2), p.62-70
• Main Authors: Lee McGowan, Greg Downes
• Format: Article
• Subjects: Australian football; Equality; Evaluation; Public opinion; Sexism in mass media; Social change; Women football players
• ISSN: 0155-0306

Examination of the relationship of Australian women with football as a contested project and its contemporary positioning as an increasingly popular, televised sport supported by exponential growth in participation underlines a fraught set of commonalities. These commonalities have influenced the historic and the contemporaneous Australian female footballers' experience. Building on oral and traditional historical research, this paper collates and explores findings from three surveys. They focus on a bibliographical review, an account of women's football (soccer) games, and consideration of the contemporaneous challenges facing female football (soccer) players. The study presents new knowledge around early Australian, specifically Brisbane, women's football (soccer) before considering common factors informing and influencing the current state of play. Oral histories from prominent participants in the game's development are drawn on to offer insight of the challenges and obstructions faced by players, coaches and administrators in the modern game. In bringing these sources together, the paper contributes to broadening understandings of Australian women's football heritage and culture and in identifying aspects for future work in the field.