Can Sex-Integrated Sport Provide a Gender-Equitable Coaching Environment?

This chapter explores the extent to which a sex-integrated sport can provide a gender-equitable coaching environment and what can be learnt from this. It begins by outlining the authors’ theoretical position in the context of discussing the coaching landscape of equestrian sport. The chapter presents quantitative data pertaining to participation rates of men and women, whilst also drawing on the narratives of two elite-level coaches. Coach education material is an indicative guide to the valourisation of the athletic body. In the context of reviewing, the coaching environment using a Bourdieu framework, power is intrinsically linked to capital. The chapter therefore suggests that this contrasts with many other sports, where the coaching and support staff are predominantly male. Finally, it draws conclusions from the authors’ study and presents recommendations for future inquiries or directions for research and policymakers.