Being a football player in Türkiye and Germany: an examination of the experiences of female football players

This study examines the football experiences of Turkish and German female footballers through the lens of Bourdieu’s concepts of field, capital, and habitus. Based on a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 participants. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: unequal early access shaped by familial, educational, and structural capital, being seen to be believed: symbolic capital and role models in football, and experiencing ınequality: material, symbolic, and structural barriers in women’s football. Although both contexts reproduce gender inequality, Germany offers stronger institutional support, symbolic recognition, and role models. In contrast, Turkish players face limited access, conservative norms, and low visibility, often relying on physical education teachers. Symbolic capital, institutional investment, and cultural norms shape legitimacy and access in both contexts. Despite national differences, female footballers in Türkiye and Germany face challenges in overcoming systems that perpetuate gender inequalities. This study contributes to feminist sports literature by revealing how gender-based inequalities persist across national contexts and calls for transformative strategies to support women’s football.