The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not women have gained gender equality in the sport of surfing. Drawing information from athletes, conservative moralists, feminists, and cultural and sports specialists, this study analyzes the increasing popular sport of surfing through a feminist perspective.

This research shows that as social gender structures change within a society, surfing has become more available for women although restrictions remain. Drawing on resources such as newspaper reports, girl magazines, surf magazines, interviews, surf movies, and documentaries, this study also illustrates how the athletic role of the surfer girl defies traditional female passivity. Because of the long history of male dominance in the sport, surfer girls are frequently unrewarded for their efforts and experience gender discrimination in all aspects of the sport. The results show that even though women have faced near complete exclusion from the sport, they are still courageous and surf and continue to fight male dominance in surfing and sports, in general.