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Fighting fit: clothing, equipment and material objects as identity formation in women’s boxing

Elaine de Vos et al.

Annals of Leisure Research2025https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2025.2524024article
AJG 2ABDC B
Weight
0.41

Abstract

This paper explores the intersections of material culture and gendered identity among women in boxing, linking material objects to lived experience. Based on ethnographic field work in two Midlands based boxing gyms in the UK, the study used semi-structured interviews, field observations, and a novel method involving boxers’ kit bags. It examines how women athletes navigate, resist, and redefine dominant ideals of Western femininity–privileging heterosexual desirability, whiteness, and toned aesthetics–within the traditionally male-dominated space of the boxing gym. Focusing on two themes: (i) clothing and contested feminine identities and (ii) boxing kit, rituals and belonging, analysis reveals how clothing choices and access to appropriate equipment impact women’s resistance, inclusion, and identity in the gym. While some expressions of resistance remain confined to the gym, the study highlights the symbolic and physical exclusion created by male-designed protective gear, calling for more equitable regulation and design in boxing.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2025.2524024

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@article{elaine2025,
  title        = {{Fighting fit: clothing, equipment and material objects as identity formation in women’s boxing}},
  author       = {Elaine de Vos et al.},
  journal      = {Annals of Leisure Research},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2025.2524024},
}

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Fighting fit: clothing, equipment and material objects as identity formation in women’s boxing

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Evidence weight

0.41

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.25 × 0.4 = 0.10
M · momentum0.55 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.