Gendered pathways to youth livelihoods through sport: evidence from Fiji

Sport is frequently promoted as a mechanism for youth development and livelihood enhancement, yet empirical evidence on how sport contributes to sustainable livelihoods, particularly for young women in Pacific Island contexts, remains limited. This study examines how sport shapes livelihood opportunities for young people in Suva, Fiji, with a particular focus on gendered participation and outcomes.

Drawing on the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF), this qualitative case study explored how socio-environmental factors, including family dynamics, peer relations, and governance structures, influence youth engagement in sport and access to livelihood assets. Data were collected through participant observation, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews across two less-studied sports (Australian Football League and cricket), involving both active participants and those who had dropped out of sport.

Youth vulnerability was shaped by unemployment, fractured family relationships, and peer pressure. Sport contributed to the accumulation of human, social, and cultural capital (vanua), but access to these benefits was uneven. Female participants faced distinct socio-cultural and economic barriers, including domestic responsibilities, limited financial resources, and restrictive gender norms, which constrained both participation and livelihood outcomes.

The findings suggest that sport functions as a gendered livelihood pathway rather than a neutral development mechanism. Enhancing the livelihood potential of sport requires addressing the socio-environmental constraints affecting female participation through gender-sensitive sport governance, improved access to resources, and more inclusive physical education systems.