The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Performance, Discovery, and Relational Narratives among Women Professional Tournament Golfers
Abstract
The dominant narrative within the literature on elite sport is characterised by a total focus on performance. Scholars in other areas have noted how although alternatives to the dominant narrative exist they are often silenced and fail to reach the public domain. Drawing on interviews with seven women professional tournament golfers, we explored the narratives women use to make sense of their experiences in elite sport. We present three narratives which illustrate the existence of alternatives to the dominant performance narrative among Europe’s most outstanding women golfers. Two alternatives are identified: a discovery narrative and a relational narrative. These findings suggest that diverse routes to success are possible in women’s professional sport. We discuss the educational and social implications of the alternative narratives in an effort to encourage discussion and debate among athletes, administrators, coaches, sports psychologists, and educators.
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“As examples of alternative stories, discovery and relational narratives show how it is possible to have worth without success and to experience career disruption without suffering and trauma (see Carless & Douglas, in press; Douglas & Carless, 2006,).”
From Abandoning The Performance Narrative: Two Women's Stories of Transition from Professional Sport (2009) · cites this paper as Douglas & Carless, 2006
In the citing paper
“Douglas and Carless describe the performance narrative as a story of single-minded dedication to sport performance to the exclusion of other areas of life and self.”
From Abandoning The Performance Narrative: Two Women's Stories of Transition from Professional Sport (2009) · cites this paper as Douglas and Carless, 2006
In the citing paper
“For a period of time, Berni and Debbie's life stories followed closely the contours of the performance narrative type as described by Douglas and Carless (2006).”
From Abandoning The Performance Narrative: Two Women's Stories of Transition from Professional Sport (2009) · cites this paper as Douglas and Carless, 2006
In the citing paper
“According to Douglas and Carless (2006), the relational narrative focuses 'on care and connectedness over and above the masculine values of separation, individuation, hierarchy, and competition' (p. 24).”
From Abandoning The Performance Narrative: Two Women's Stories of Transition from Professional Sport (2009) · cites this paper as Douglas and Carless (2006)
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Metadata
- Authors
- Douglas, K., & Carless, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Leeds Beckett University (GB)
- Venue
- Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2006-10
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 14-27
- ISSN
- 1063-6161 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-1581
- OpenAlex
- W2134533622
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 8.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal (publishedVersion)
- Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sports, Gender, and Society
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Sociology, History and Politics of Sport
- Keywords
- women's professional sports, alternative narratives, discovery narratives, relational narratives, elite sport, sensemaking, gender and sport
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