An analysis of socialization practices that construct gender order in football fandom

Studies on fandom mostly ignores the experiences of female fandom, considering it as a homogeneous structure. However, research on female fandom reveals that female fans have different experiences than male fans and they have difficulty in accepting real supporters in the field of fandom. The gender order ensures that the order in fandom, which is accepted as the domain of men and marginalizes women, is revealed. Socialization theory is guiding in order to reveal how this gender order is formed. This thesis study, which was conducted with a qualitative research paradigm, was carried out with 13 fans, 5 male and 8 female, who were fans of different teams. The data of the study were collected through semi-structured individual interviews. The data collected as a result of the interviews were analyzed through thematic data analysis method. At the end of the analysis, two themes were reached as "Gender Order in Football Fans" and "Socialization Through Fans". The research revealed that football fandom is accepted as a male domain, at the same time, violence identified with masculinity is normalized and women are accepted as alterity in fandom. It has revealed that this gender order is constructed through the agents of socialization, family, education, friendship and the media, and is constantly reproduced through these agents.