Enclaved non-heteronormativity and pragmatic acceptance. The experiences of Polish female football players

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss how Polish non-heterosexual female football players cope with institutionalised normative heterosexuality, which functions in Poland on several levels. The study is based on 25 in-depth interviews with professional Polish female football players. The interviewed women experienced heteronormativity within Polish society, which precluded negotiating the status of homosexuality in the broader social context. The processes of de-normalisation of heteronormativity are also difficult in the field of football. Although many football coaches and club managers display ‘pragmatic acceptance’ of non-heterosexual female players, this attitude is not always accompanied by respect for different sexual orientations. The ways in which female football players deal with such circumstances resulted in creating a safe space of ‘enclaved non-heteronormativity’ within the team. It is a space which protects from socially dominant compulsory heterosexuality. We discuss the role of this enclave and its potential for social change in football cultures in Poland.