Lifestyle Sports and Identities: Subcultural Careers Through the Life Course

This book explores how participation in lifestyle sports is influenced by factors such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, location, age, and career stage, and how individuals develop and manage their lifestyle sport identities throughout their lives. It features case studies from a range of sports and considers issues such as professionalization, sports labor, and digital technology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 310 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate interplay between various stages of adult life and participation in lifestyle sports, as well as the construction of identity. Drawing upon a diverse range of multi-disciplinary perspectives, it explores how gender, sexuality, ethnicity, location, age, and career stage, in conjunction with lifestyle sports practices and meanings, shape individuals' experiences. Spanning the lifecourse, from young adulthood to older age, the book examines the concepts of authenticity and identity within subcultural and alternative sports, shedding light on how individuals develop, maintain, and navigate their lifestyle sport identities throughout their lives.

Through a series of captivating case studies from around the world, covering sports such as climbing, surfing, mountain biking, skateboarding, and roller derby, the book examines key contemporary issues such as professionalization, sports labor, and digital technology. It also highlights the political tensions and shifts that shape the identities of lifestyle sport communities.

This book is a must-read for anyone with a deep interest in alternative or lifestyle sports, the relationships between sport and society, or the development of subcultures and cultural identity. Its insightful analysis and rich case studies provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics that shape participation in lifestyle sports and the construction of identity across different stages of adulthood.

Weight: 589g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032052397