Thick Desire, Girlhood and the Politics of Sexuality in Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) Programmes

Dr. Megan Chawansky, Lecturer
School of Sport and Service Management

Monday, 28th January 2013, 5.30-6.30pm

Greynore Hall, Darley Road, Eastbourne Campus

Thick desire suggests that young people are entitled to ‘range of desires,’ which includes ‘meaningful intellectual, political and social engagement’ in their future lives (Fine & McClelland, 2006, p. 300).  Though rarely stated as such, most SDP programmes that seek to empower 'underserved' girls through the use of sport and physical activity rely on Fine and McClelland's (2006) concept of ‘thick desire’ even while they minimise or eliminate discussions of (sexual) desire in the context of their curriculums. 

This talk examines curriculums and evidence from girl-centred SDP programmes (Forde, 2008) to argue that the discussions of reproduction and sexual health and hygiene that dominate the ‘non-sport’ elements of SDP programming send mixed messages to girls about their bodies, their futures, and their desires.  This talk concludes with a call for more nuanced discussions of sexualities within SDP curriculums and training materials.