The intersection of class, race, gender and generation in shaping Latinas’ sport experiences

Abstract

Abstract Latina women, a growing demographic in the United States, are largely absent from literature examining how race, ethnicity, and gender influence sport participation. This research explores how those factors intersect with socioeconomic status and generational status to influence how and when they joined organized sport, which sports they chose, and their perceptions of family support and belonging. Semi-structured interviews with 31 college-educated Latinas who played interscholastic high school sports in the US demonstrate that social class and nativity influence sport choices through habitus. Middle class and native-born families have resources to access organized sport and prioritize participation. Their daughters begin sport at an early age and are well-supported in their athletic careers. Lower-class and immigrant families place a lower value on organized sport and have fewer resources to access opportunities. Class and generation also intersect with gender, race, and ethnicity to influence when women join organized sports and how they make sense of their athletic participation.