Start Date
18-6-2025 12:30 PM
End Date
18-6-2025 2:00 PM
Abstract
Introduction Disabled girls often face exclusion from physical education. The intersection of disability and gender reinforces stereotypes that associate them with unattractiveness, dependence, and incapacity in sports. Despite these barriers, disabled girls and women forge alternative paths to engage in sports, navigating both the physical and social limitations imposed on their bodies. This study aims to explore the life histories of three Brazilian female Paralympians.
Methodology Using retrospective interview methods, we collected the life histories of a para-badminton player, a blind swimmer, and a boccia player. The Paralympians’ perspectives centered on their memories of physical education and their eventual journeys of transformation into athletes through sports. The narrative analysis was guided by an emancipatory agenda and grounded in feminist disability studies as the theoretical framework.
Results
Physical education experiences consistently evoked a sense of exclusion for disabled girls. These ranged from non-participation (such as assisting the teacher by holding balls) to meaningless participation (being marginalized, like a blind player in a dodgeball game), and even to full but segregated participation (learning boccia in isolation from peers). Despite these challenges, such experiences did not deter these women from pursuing their sports journeys. The turning point in their athletic careers came through contextualized practice, supported by an accessible environment, an encouraging coach, and an inspirational role model.
Conclusions Each story highlights the journey from exclusion in physical education to becoming a Paralympian. Bridging this significant gap was made possible by key factors that fostered their engagement in sports, ultimately rooted in a redefinition of their identities as disabled women.
Recommended Citation
Tanure Alves, Maria Luiza; Alves, Isabella Santos; Feliciano, Nathali Fernanda; Silva, Gustavo Cunha; and Coates, Janine, "The memories of failure in PE turned into success in Sport by Brazilian Paralympic athletes" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 22.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day3/22
The memories of failure in PE turned into success in Sport by Brazilian Paralympic athletes
Introduction Disabled girls often face exclusion from physical education. The intersection of disability and gender reinforces stereotypes that associate them with unattractiveness, dependence, and incapacity in sports. Despite these barriers, disabled girls and women forge alternative paths to engage in sports, navigating both the physical and social limitations imposed on their bodies. This study aims to explore the life histories of three Brazilian female Paralympians.
Methodology Using retrospective interview methods, we collected the life histories of a para-badminton player, a blind swimmer, and a boccia player. The Paralympians’ perspectives centered on their memories of physical education and their eventual journeys of transformation into athletes through sports. The narrative analysis was guided by an emancipatory agenda and grounded in feminist disability studies as the theoretical framework.
Results
Physical education experiences consistently evoked a sense of exclusion for disabled girls. These ranged from non-participation (such as assisting the teacher by holding balls) to meaningless participation (being marginalized, like a blind player in a dodgeball game), and even to full but segregated participation (learning boccia in isolation from peers). Despite these challenges, such experiences did not deter these women from pursuing their sports journeys. The turning point in their athletic careers came through contextualized practice, supported by an accessible environment, an encouraging coach, and an inspirational role model.
Conclusions Each story highlights the journey from exclusion in physical education to becoming a Paralympian. Bridging this significant gap was made possible by key factors that fostered their engagement in sports, ultimately rooted in a redefinition of their identities as disabled women.