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Off Cue: Women who play pool

National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Australian National University

Marguerite Byrne

Nara-Ken, Japan

Lily Petkovic

Cabramatta, NSW

Pool halls in Australia, as in most English-speaking coun tries, are largely male preserves, and most pool players are men. This paper explores some of the factors underlying why comparatively few women play pool, and what happens to those women who do breach the invisible boundary that marks off the pool halls as male territory. Using observations and interviews conducted in an Australian university union bar, this study suggest that pool playing serves to confirm certain forms of masculinity. Sexual harassment and other forms of intimidating behaviour are used to exclude women from playing pool. Furthermore, those women who are admitted to pool playing are accepted on terms (such as having a male sponsor) that minimise the intrusion and pre serve male power and control over the space.

Journal of Sociology, Vol. 28, No. 2, 175-191 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/144078339202800202


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