ABSTRACT
This chapter explores gender equality in sports, specifically surfing, which has predominantly been viewed as a masculine endeavor. Through a series of in-depth interviews with ten female surfers from Orange County, California, first collected in 2008 and revisited a decade later, it became evident that the most significant constraints for women seeking to participate in this male-dominated sport are socio-culturally ingrained and gender related. Women's societal perceptions as risk-avoidant caregivers have inhibited them and caused them to experience self-doubt when they engage in action sports. This chapter intends to unveil the relationship between women surfers and pre-constructed gender bias in a world that continues to perceive sportswomen as women first and athletes second. The data presented is particularly relevant in light of the most recent feminist movements (fourth wave of feminism) that focus on sexual harassment, body shaming and rape culture. These movements have grown rapidly through the use of social media to denounce and address these abuses. The future direction of this research involves further exploration of the findings within international contexts where the culture of surfing is prevalent.
