Beyond Participation: A Conversation with Dr. Anne Tjøndal on Social Inclusion in Norwegian Boxing

In this episode, Dr. Anne Tjøndal discusses her research on gender, social inclusion, and methodological challenges in the study of Norwegian boxing. As an athlete, coach, and former vice president of the Norwegian Boxing Federation as well as a sociologist, Tjøndal has a unique perspective on the experiences of women in the sport. This conversation addresses the persistent association between boxing, masculinity, and violence, while highlighting efforts to increase women’s participation and leadership within the sport. Central to the conversation is Bailey’s four-dimensional framework of social inclusion, encompassing spatial, relational, functional, and power dimensions. Tjøndal argues that participation alone is insufficient for measuring inclusion and emphasizes the importance of qualitative and ethnographic approaches to understanding belonging, access, and influence within sporting communities.