ABSTRACT
This chapter examines females' early sporting experiences and the ways these may later help to shape women's wider involvement in sport. It considers the formative experiences of female fans by focusing upon early experiences of sport at school. The chapter explores the role of family members in shaping females' involvement in sport. It discusses how some family members actively discouraged female involvement in sport. The chapter describes women's perceptions of change and considers how major transformations in women's lives have led to increasing opportunities for women to become involved in sport as fans. It also discusses recent changes in professional sport and how this has created a more 'female-friendly' environment. The chapter focuses on feminization of sports fandom thesis by drawing upon the empirical research findings. It also explores the limits to the alleged changes in women's lives by considering continuities in gender inequalities.
