Presentation of Female Athletes' Femininity in Chinese Commercial Combat Sports

Combat sports have traditionally been regarded as a domain for the production of masculinity, thus imposing numerous restrictions on the presentation of femininity among female athletes. This study attempts to explore the presentation of femininity of female athletes who participate in Chinese commercial combat sports from the perspective of post-structural feminism, representing an attempt to promote theoretical dialogue between the fluidity of gender temperament in sports and post-structural feminist viewpoints. Utilizing the data collected from semi-structured interviews with professional female athletes, event organizers, and combat sports journalists, this study analyzes the feminine presentation in sports. Based on boundary theory and the conventional "technique-gender" framework, the study develops 4 types of "combat industry characteristics-femininity" boundary negotiations. The findings indicate that female athletes, through their athletic bodies, exhibit diverse and fluid expressions of femininity. They actively engage in boundary negotiations, challenge and impact traditional dominant discourses, thereby achieving the goal of self-empowerment.