Bridging Gender

This project analyses attitudes to gender among bridge players based on 151 email questionnaires and 52 interviews from the Bridging Minds study. The initial analysis of the interview data was conducted by Elizabeth Graham for her Masters thesis, combined with the follow-up email questionnaires carried out by BAMSA. This project explores gender differences in the mindsport of bridge and the question of why, at the top of the game, men are more successful in terms of winning more prestigious events. This work is also informed by a literature review of gendered brains, titled: ‘Sex differences in the human brain and the game of bridge’ (McPherson, Punch and Graham).

The fieldwork consisted of email questionnaires (2017-2018) and in-depth interviews (2013-2019). Findings were published in 2021-2023. These research findings have led to the development of a Gender Policy by the Women’s Committee of the European Bridge League (EBL).

Punch, S., Snellgrove, M., Graham, E., McPherson, C. and Cleary, J. (2023) Bridging Brains: Exploring Neurosexism and Gendered Stereotypes in a Mindsport, Leisure/Loisir Journal.

• Practical summary
• Infographic Poster:  pdf format or png format

Rogers, A., Snellgrove, M.L. and Punch, S. (2022) Between Equality and Discrimination: The Paradox of the Women’s Game in the Mind-sport Bridge, World Leisure Journal, 64(4): 342-360.

• Practical summary

Punch, S. and Rogers, A. (2021) Building, not Burning Bridges in Research: Insider/Outsider Dilemmas and Engaging with the Bridge Community, Journal of Leisure Research, 53(2): 272-289.

• Practical summary

Punch et al. (2024) Neurosexism and Mindsport, Chess Conference at Chess Olympiad, Budapest, 15-21 September 2024

BAMSA (2021) Gender, Sexism and Bridge, 4^th International Bridge Conference, Bridging Academia, Policy and Practice, 30 June 2021, University of Stirling.

Punch, S., Snellgrove, M.L., Graham, E. and McPherson, C. (2021) ‘Bridging Brains: Exploring Gendered Attitudes and Inequalities in a Mindsport’, The Academy of Leisure Sciences Virtual Conference, 8-19 February 2021

Video presentation

Graham, E. and Punch, S. (2016) ‘Why are Men More Successful at Bridge than Women?’ Centre for Research on Families and Relationships Conference, University of Edinburgh, 13 June

Graham, E. and Punch, S. (2016) ‘Intellectual Contests, Gender and Bridge’, Royal Geographical Society Geographers’ Annual Conference, London, 28-30 August 2016.

Punch, S., Graham, E., McPherson, C. and Rogers, A. (2018) Gender Inequalities and Bridge – Implications for Tournaments Directors, English Bridge Union (EBU) TD Panel Training, Coventry, 6 December 2018