The data collected by INSEE show a strong growth in the number of female licensees because in 1962 19% of the licensees were women against 37% in 2010. In addition, there is 40% female club practice for 24% female practice in competition. Despite the progress of the practitioners, the choice of activities is strongly gendered.

In "Sociology of Sport", Pascal Duret relates the evolution of women's practices: despite the spread and massification of physical and sports activities, not all sports are standardized. Indeed some are said to be rather masculine and others rather feminine. The sharp increase in sports practitioners can be explained by the increase in female employees. In 1960, five out of ten women worked while in 1980 this was the case for seven out of ten of them. Today eight out of ten women are salaried. Although there is an opening to access to sport for women (1987 INSEP survey: 70% of women practicing against 76% of men), they only practice it at home and during the holidays, but not in competition. "Gender membership therefore conditions working time, family time and self-time" (Louveau, 2006). In addition, we realize that the evolution of the female practice of sport is very important. Indeed over the years the conditioning of time has changed in women. Before they devoted themselves entirely to their family, domestic chores and education while men took more time for their leisure time. They were confined to the role of housewife. Today, with the mass work for women, they have become less dependent on their husbands and take time to devote themselves to self-realization and personal fulfillment. They do not completely abandon their functions in relation to education and domestic tasks but they take care of themselves. The evolution is flagrant since before they sacrificed themselves for their family. In the survey, we note that 70% of female senior managers played tennis and 30% of female workers did gymnastics or maintenance gymnastics. Thanks to the MJS survey conducted by Mignon and Truchot in 2002, we note that men are much more competitive (three out of four are men) and club supporters than women. Women are much less represented than men in competition.

Today, if we categorize the main sports by sex we get three categories. Feminized practices with dance, skating, and gymnastics. Maleized practices with golf, motorsports, football, and rugby. Finally, so-called mixed practices, with skiing, volleyball, badminton, tennis and basketball.

Nicolas Zebbar

Graduated from a Masters in sports management and passionate about tennis, I carried out a study on the development of women's tennis. Practicing this sport for twenty years and today manager of my club (TC Morlaàs in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques), I am always on the lookout for new ideas aimed at improving the practice environment for members. I am therefore delighted to be able to share this work.

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