Femininity and the Physically Active Woman explores one reason many women offer for their lack of involvement in sport and exercise-that they are not the 'sporty' type.

Precilla Y.L. Choi argues that the 'sporty' type is masculine. To determine how this notion might affect women's self-perceptions, she critically examines the experiences of women athletes, bodybuilders, recreational exercisers and girls' physical education. What emerges is the importance of visible differences between women and men, in terms of muscularity, strength and agility, in order to maintain the gender order. If a girl or woman wishes to participate in sport she must do so in conformity with a number of patriarchal rules which ensure she is first and foremost recognised as a heterosexual feminine being.