Girls and Women in Umpiring: Retention and Participation Limited by Hostile Cultural Contexts

In recent years there has been substantial growth of women playing in and competing at the top levels of traditionally male-dominated sports, including Australian Football. By comparison, the number of women officials have not increased at the same rate, raising multiple questions about retention, participation and sustainability. This paper reports the experiences of girls and women Australian Football officials. 27 umpires who identified as girls, women or as non-binary participated in interviews or focus groups which were then analysed thematically. Findings indicate that regardless of their location, level of experience, or seniority, girls and women faced overt and covert exclusion and discrimination in umpiring due to their gender. These included microaggressions delivered through the framing of their appointments to games, change room practices and gendered and sexual harassment. Discursive constructions often positioned the participants as 'different' and 'lesser' in their abilities and belonging, impacting their desire to continue umpiring. We argue that the current cultural context of umpiring is at best marginalising to girls and women, and at worst hostile and dangerous. To improve these environments, commitment to and strategy for reform is needed at a broad, institutional level, and at a local, interactional level, including specific education and inclusion initiatives, targeted development pathways, investment in infrastructure and policy, and ongoing analysis of change.