Exploring the ‘female-athlete paradox’: A thematic synthesis of 20 + years of qualitative literature

Guided by an understanding that female athletes contend with sport and societal norms around the body, the purpose of this study was to synthesize qualitative literature exploring how female athletes perceived and/or experienced the body within and outside of sport. Seven databases were systematically searched from 2001 through 2025. Eligible articles used qualitative or mixed methods, were published in English, and explored perceptions and/or experiences of the body among female athletes participating in any sport at any level. 848 unique titles and abstracts were screened, 74 articles underwent full text review, with 43 articles retained for analysis. Across all studies, 764 participants were included, ranging from 11 to 56 years old, and reporting engagement in sports across various competitive levels. The overarching theme, chronic tension surrounding matters of the body, captured a consistent dilemma highlighted in the literature concerning body-related perceptions and/or experiences within and outside of sport. Three subthemes encompassed sources of chronic tension. Conclusions from this study elucidated the stability of negative appearance-related perceptions and experiences of the body within and outside of sport. In contrast, performance and function of the body were positively perceived and experienced yet commonly overlooked outside of sport. Conceptual and methodological refinement connected to body image and sport literature are offered as future recommendations.