All-Mighty Soccer and the Structure of Gender Stereotypy in Romania

Adrian Constantin Nagel, Sorina Voiculescu () and Silvia Nicoleta Mirica
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Adrian Constantin Nagel: Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, West University of Timisoara, Blv. Vasile Pârvan Nr. 4, 300229 Timișoara, Romania
Sorina Voiculescu: Department of Geography, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timișoara, Blv. Vasile Pârvan Nr. 4, 300229 Timișoara, Romania
Silvia Nicoleta Mirica: Department of Kinetotherapy and Special Motor Skills, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, West University of Timișoara, Blv. Vasile Pârvan Nr. 4, 300229 Timișoara, Romania

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: This article explores how gender stereotypes and institutional practices influence the development and public image of women’s football in Romania, framing the case within debates on social sustainability (SDG 5), media representation, and sports governance. Using a mixed-methods approach, we triangulate (1) a qualitative content analysis of DigiSport online coverage ( n = 57 articles; 2022–2025), (2) public testimonies collected at a national conference on gender and sport held in Timișoara in 2025 and (3) two in-depth, semi-structured interviews with one professional player whose multi-club career offers cross-organizational insights and one professional player who is still a student at the start of her career. The findings reveal systematic symbolic exclusion: in our sample, stories about women’s football make up approximately 2% of total football coverage and are mostly limited to results-only briefs, with little contextual information about athletes, resources, or structures. Historically, post-socialist policy changes have led to formal recognition but limited material support, resulting in symbolic compliance, such as UEFA/FRF mandates without corresponding investments. Current initiatives, like FRF’s Modele de Femeie campaign and UEFA-supported GOALSCORE, increase visibility but coexist with persistent gendered framings in media narratives and public discourse. The interviews support the media findings, highlighting recurring barriers—such as precarious funding, limited pathways, gendered disrespect in stadiums, and the psychological impact of marginalization—alongside stories of resilience and agency. We argue that achieving sustainable inclusion in women’s football requires more than regulatory measures; it calls for media parity, stable resources, and gender-competent leadership. Aligning policy with cultural change through equitable coverage standards, transparent funding, and accountability measures can transform football from a symbol of inequality into a space of social empowerment.

Keywords: women’s football; Romania; gender stereotypes; symbolic exclusion; media representation; sport governance; social sustainability; SDG 5; UEFA/FRF policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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