Gender Dynamics in Quadball: Making Space on the Pitch

Authors

Emily X. McNally, California State University, Monterey BayFollow

Keywords

quadball, quidditch, gender

Document Type

Main Theme / Tema Central

Abstract

Quadball is a sport based on Quidditch, the fictional sport born from the book series, Harry Potter, minus the flying. The introduction of this paper provides an overview of the sport and why gender plays such a significant role in it. Twelve players were brought together for a study and were put into three focus groups to discuss and hear other player’s perspectives on gender dynamics within the sport. There was a non-binary, women’s and men’s group. Overall, it was found that players are working toward making the sport more gender inclusive, but the sport has not achieved full gender equality. Players considered biological differences and systemic misogyny in regards to how they affect game play and team dynamics. Quadball is fairly gender inclusive when comparing it to other sports, but there is still work to be done. Each group had a different perspective on how gender is treated within the sport, likely having a connection to how gender is treated in society as a whole. The sport has the potential to trailblaze equal gender standards within the sports world, but in order to get there, the individual teams need to take the initiative in being the driving force.

Recommended Citation

McNally, Emily X. (2025) "Gender Dynamics in Quadball: Making Space on the Pitch," Culture, Society, and Praxis: Vol. 17: No. 2, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/csp/vol17/iss2/2