How does feminist theory interpret gender differences and power relations in sport?

• A. It claims men should dominate leadership in sport.
• B. It critiques patriarchy and gendered hierarchies, examines barriers to women's participation, representation, and leadership, and analyzes gendered sport norms.
• C. It argues gender differences are purely biological and unrelated to norms.
• D. It analyzes economic value of sport ignoring gender.

Answer: (B)

Feminist theory in sport focuses on how gender differences and power are produced and maintained through social structures and institutions. It argues that patriarchy and gendered hierarchies shape who participates, who gets representation, and who leads, by creating barriers for women and other marginalized groups and by enforcing norms about what counts as appropriate athletic behavior, appearance, and roles.

This perspective looks at how organizations, funding, media coverage, and cultural expectations reinforce unequal power—limiting women’s access to leadership positions, reducing visibility and sponsorship, and normalizing unequal pay or prestige. It also emphasizes that differences between how sports are experienced by different genders are not just about biology; they are deeply shaped by norms, practices, and policies that privilege male athletes and masculine forms of sport.

The other options miss this focus: claiming male domination reflects a patriarchal outcome rather than a critical analysis of it; arguing that gender differences are purely biological ignores the social processes that construct and enforce those differences; and analyzing economic value without considering gender neglects the ways gendered power shapes opportunities and outcomes in sport.