“Representation starts the conversation but real change happens behind the scenes”
Anastasia Chatzin, BSc
Anastasia Chatzina is a research intern at PRISM, where she contributes to the development and communication of the project’s digital presence, including the creation of the PRISM website and the presentation of ongoing research initiatives. She is currently completing the International Bachelor Communication and Media (IBCoM) at Erasmus University Rotterdam, with a minor specialization in Sports and Society.
Her academic work focuses on the intersections of media, sport, and identity, with a particular interest in how gender and representation shape sporting cultures. As part of her research internship, Anastasia has examined gender dynamics in Formula 1, exploring how media narratives and fan engagement reflect broader issues of inclusion in sports. Through her studies and internship, she aims to bridge research and practice by communicating scholarly insights to broader audiences.
Women in Motorsport: Institutional Efforts and Symbolic Inclusion in Formula 1
Overview
This research examines how the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 promote women’s participation in motorsport through their official institutional communication. While Formula 1 has historically been perceived as a male-dominated sport, recent initiatives have sought to make the field more inclusive, both on and off the track. The study explores whether these initiatives reflect genuine institutional change or primarily function as symbolic gestures of diversity.
Research Goals
The study aimed to:
Map and evaluate FIA and Formula 1’s recent initiatives focused on gender inclusion.
Analyze how these efforts are framed in official communication and how they construct meanings around women’s participation.
Assess whether institutional discourse signals structural change or reinforces symbolic representation.
Theoretical Framework
The analysis was grounded in gender equity theory, symbolic representation theory, and the concept of gendered institutions. These frameworks contextualize the tension between visible inclusion efforts and persistent masculine norms in sport. Drawing on Acker’s (1990) theory of gendered institutions and Senne’s (2016) work on gender equity in sports governance, the research interprets inclusion initiatives not only as practical measures but also as symbolic performances within a historically male-coded organisational culture.
Methodology
A qualitative content analysis was conducted on 35 official documents published by the FIA and Formula 1 between 2019 and 2024, including annual reports, newsletters, ESG reports, and press releases. Documents were selected based on their relevance to gender, diversity, and inclusion. Using ATLAS.ti, an inductive coding process identified key themes such as social justice framing, empowerment narratives, economic justifications, and structural interventions. To ensure reliability, a second coder independently analyzed a sample of the data.
Key Findings
The analysis revealed that institutional communication often emphasizes empowerment and visibility narratives, celebrating role models and symbolic milestones, while more structural interventions (like mentoring, scholarships, or quotas) received comparatively less attention. Framing strategies frequently aligned with branding and corporate image goals, suggesting that gender inclusion is often presented as both a moral and marketable pursuit. Although FIA and Formula 1 have made visible progress through initiatives such as F1 Academy and Women in Engineering, the findings indicate that these efforts still operate within a broader gendered institutional framework, where masculine norms and tokenistic representations persist.
Significance
By critically examining how institutional actors communicate gender inclusion, this study contributes to ongoing discussions about representation, authenticity, and power in global sports organisations. It underscores the need for initiatives that move beyond symbolic visibility toward systemic transformation in motorsport.