Mulheres de preto: trajetórias na arbitragem do futebol profissional

Abstract

A lot of difficulties – such as cultural and gender barriers, as well as those related to career building – limit women experience in soccer. The aim of this study is to describe the history of Brazilian professional football referees and analyze the processes of inclusion, permanence, career advancement and retirement of women referees in Brazilian professional soccer. To achieve our purpose, we conducted a qualitative and descriptive research. Data was collected through interviews conducted with ten women soccer referees acting in the years 1980, 1990 and 2000. For data analysis we adopted Bardin´s content analysis technique. Access routes to arbitration were family and sports experience. The visibility of women in arbitration was essential for the entry of new referees in the 2000s. The study participants were active in major national and international competitions, and the end of their careers was motivated by injuries. We conclude that the referees of the 1980s and 1990s, when inserted in the refereeing, broke down barriers, overcame numerous difficulties in the field of refereeing and contributed to consolidating the role of women as referees.