“More than just a game”: a critical feminist examination of a prison-based physical activity service-learning project

This study aims to analyse the perceptions and experiences of the different agents involved in a Critical Feminist Service Learning (CFSL) project of Physical Activity and Sport (PAS) in prison, with particular attention to the ways in which participants engaged with and contributed to the project, capturing and amplifying the voices of participants involved. SL has become a widely established educational approach in higher education, including degrees in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (PASS), where it is valued as an experiential pedagogy that offers multiple benefits for students. However, given the principle of reciprocity underpinning SL, it is essential to understand its impact on all participants and on the context in which it takes place. To address this, the study examines a three-year CFSL project in PAS that integrates the gender perspective and feminist pedagogy. The project was embedded in an undergraduate PASS course and involved university students and incarcerated individuals from two prisons in Catalonia. A thematic analysis was conducted on participants’ experiences gathered through focus groups with the different participants groups. This was complemented by interviews with prison sports educators and a reflective field diary produced by the university staff responsible for the course. Findings show that PAS foster meaningful experiences for incarcerated individuals, promoting personal growth, reflection and social connection. Engagement in sport enabled participants to view their time in prison constructively, while interaction with students encouraged mutual recognition and dialogue. Integrating critical and feminist perspectives enhanced inclusivity and addressed structural inequalities. The project also left a lasting legacy by introducing new physical activities and strengthening relationships between universities, prisons and participants, highlighting PAS’s role in well-being, social cohesion and restorative outcomes.