Skills capital and inclusivity in men’s roller derby

Abstract

Engaging with debates on the potential of sports to be inclusive, this research presents an analysis of the impact of capital on inclusivity in men’s roller derby, an alternative sport. Through qualitative interviews and participant observation of a men’s roller derby team based in South Yorkshire, skills capital is shown to have a detrimental impact on the goal of inclusivity. Skills capital is a form of symbolic capital that grants the bearer significant freedom to engage in non-conforming behaviour within a group setting. Given the commitment to inclusivity within the sport, this non-conforming behaviour has the potential to be transformative, but more frequently replicates the hegemonic masculine practices of mainstream sport. This renders the goal to be more inclusive problematic and difficult to achieve in practice even within alternative sporting spaces.