A woman in sport: Maria Esther Bueno's dialogues and ruptures

Abstract

Maria Esther Bueno is an important Brazilian and international tennis player who won some of the greatest and most recognized tennis tournaments in the world. The tennis player introduced herself to this sport at a time when the participation of women was already allowed but less often and diversified when compared to current times. This research aims to comprehend the process which enabled Maria Esther Bueno to become a great athlete at a time of low women insertion in a competitive sport in Brazil. An interview will be made with the tennis player and the material found on Acervo do Clube Regatas do tietê, "O Estado de São Paulo" and "O Globo" newspapers published between 1950 and 1970 will be analyzed. The following questions will guide the research: which position was Maria Esther Bueno situated in that made her insertion in a high society sport possible? How did her family influence her along this process? How did her sportive insertion dialogued with other personal and professional choices? Which ruptures and approaches were done between being a woman and an athlete? Which factors were present for her to conquer this position? Which forms of social and governmental support were present and absent in her course? Studying Maria Esther Bueno's carrier will allow us to understand the social processes which were involved during the decades she played and the context in which women entered a competitive sports environment. This material will be analyzed from the gender and sociology perspective, specially sports sociology. Thus, these areas will guide our analysis and conclusions. (AU)