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Editorial
Out of sight, out of mind: the invisibility of female African athletes in sports and exercise medicine research
  1. Nonhlanhla Sharon Mkumbuzi1,
  2. Fidelis Chibhabha2,
  3. Phathokuhle Cele Zondi3
  1. 1 Department of Human Biology, Health through Physical Activity and Sport Research Centre (HPALS), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
  2. 2 Department of Anatomy, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
  3. 3 High Performance Comission, Medical Advisory Committee, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Salt Rock, South Africa
  1. Correspondence to Nonhlanhla Sharon Mkumbuzi, Human Biology, Health through Physical Activity and Sport Research Centre (HPALS), University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa; nsmkumbuzi{at}gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-104202

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    In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the participation of females in sport, as well as professionalism of female sport.1 Sports and exercise medicine (SEM) literature has, however, failed to mirror this progress, as female athletes continue to be on the margins of methodological, theoretical and empirical research.2 The absence of the female narrative in the scientific literature is even more pervasive for female athletes in Africa, which presents various challenges for athletes and clinicians. This editorial highlights the challenges associated with the scarcity of research on female African athletes.

    Intersectionality

    Much of the current scientific evidence on athletes fails to account for the intersection of gender, race, culture and economics3—factors which compound the difficulties faced by female athletes. In particular, the journey of the female African athlete is significantly influenced by the following: societal expectations, culturally driven perceptions, and (lack of) access to opportunities, sports infrastructure and financial support.4 As such, interventions that do not consider the intersection between biology and the …

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @SharonNoe17, @phatho_z

    • Contributors Conceptualisation of the manuscript and first draft: NSM. Revision of manuscript drafts and final draft: NSM, FC and PCZ.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests NSM and PCZ are associate editors of BJSM.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.