Women’s Positioning and Gendered Experiences in Korean Taekwondo: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to synthesize qualitative research on women in Korean Taekwondo and interpret their gendered experiences across participant roles and practice domains.METHODS The researchers searched the Korean research databases KCI, RISS, and DBpia using the terms “Taekwondo AND women” and “Taekwondo AND female.” After screening, 23 studies, consisting of 13 journal articles and 10 theses and dissertations, were included. Following an interpretive qualitative meta-synthesis approach, first- and second-order constructs were extracted and iteratively compared and categorized.RESULTS Four higher-order categories and twelve subcategories were identified: ‘conditional inclusion and gendered positioning’; ‘the gender politics of recognition and the double burden of proving competence’; ‘asymmetrical career time and conflicts across the life course’; and ‘the reconstruction of position and identity through practice and relationships’. Women experienced gendered constraints in recognition, roles, and authority; repeatedly demonstrated their competence; negotiated career continuity in relation to life-course demands; and reconstructed their positions and identities through individual practices and relational resources.CONCLUSIONS Women’s experiences in Taekwondo varied across participant roles and practice domains, while gendered expectations, recognition of expertise, career continuity, relational resources, and identity were interconnected. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing women’s expertise, supporting career continuity and return to professional activity, reconciling caregiving responsibilities with Taekwondo participation, and strengthening relational support.