Reproductive Rights, Gender, Culture and Grassroots Football: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Women’s Experiences in Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the intersecting challenges of period poverty and maternity exclusion in grassroots women’s football in Southeast Nigeria, arguing for policy parity through context-sensitive legal frameworks. Drawing on intersectionality theory, the research analyses how gender, rurality, poverty, and informal governance structures combine to marginalise female footballers. A qualitative methodology was employed, including 25 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions with players, coaches, and community stakeholders. Findings reveal pervasive menstrual-related absenteeism, widespread reliance on improvised sanitary materials, and systemic maternity-related replacement due to the absence of welfare provisions. Cultural stigma and male-dominated governance further silence reproductive health needs, reinforcing exclusion. The study demonstrates that global sport policies on menstrual health and maternity protections remain largely inapplicable in informal grassroots contexts. It contributes to scholarship by foregrounding rural African experiences and challenging universal policy assumptions. The paper proposes a multi-level parity framework encompassing legal reforms, institutional interventions, and community-based initiatives to reduce attrition and enhance participation. Ultimately, it repositions reproductive health as central to equity and sustainability in grassroots sport development.