Balancing the game: state-society dynamics and the case of female athletes in Singapore

Abstract

In Singapore, female athletes navigate a complex intersection of pragmatic career pressures, gender expectations and personal ambitions in competitive sports. Rooted in state-led pragmatism, state-led policies in Singapore emphasize economic growth, limiting support for professional sports. Female athletes are pressured to prioritise their professional careers, in addition to domestic and gendered responsibilities. This study examines how state-society dynamics in Singapore shape female athletes' experiences, highlighting the tensions between individual agency and structural constraints and how female athletes negotiate and navigate their identities.