A comparative study on female top sports leagues between Japan and the United States.

本研究的目的是通过考察日本女子体育联赛和美国女子体育联赛观众特征的差异，为日本女子体育联赛的发展提供有益的信息。这些数据是通过对2001年6月至11月期间美国职业棒球大联盟和美国职业棒球大联盟三场常规赛的观众自填问卷收集的。研究人员共收集了1312份回复(314份来自美国职业棒球大联盟，998份来自美国职业棒球大联盟)。两个联盟之间的比较显示：1)在美国职业棒球大联盟中，62.1%的观众是女性，而在美国职业联赛中，72.1%的观众是男性；2)94.2%的WUSA观众是和家人和/或朋友一起观看比赛，而LL联赛的40.2%是独自一人观看比赛的；3)1999年女足世界杯(WWC99)的蓬勃发展引发了WUSA的大受欢迎，73.8%的WUSA女性观众更喜欢女足而不是男足。从社会心理因素来看，中超和WUSA的观众都受到足球、美学、游戏戏剧和健康环境等兴趣因素的影响。WUSA的观众，尤其是女性，重视榜样，支持女子运动。另一方面，美国女子足球联赛的观众与成就、娱乐性和对球员的兴趣等因素有很好的关系。这些结果表明，女子足球在美国的流行是基于以下因素：1)WWC99的成功；2)女明星球员作为实现性别平等的榜样的存在；3)女性对女性体育的支持意愿；4)观众体育作为一种健康娱乐的地位，可以与家人和/或朋友一起享受。

The purpose of this study was to obtain useful information for developing female sports leagues in Japan by examining the differences of spectators' characteristics in the L. League in Japan and the WUSA in the States. Large differences in operating the leagues were expected to have a large affect on their spectators.The data were collected by a self-administrated questionnaire for spectators at three regular season games of the L. League and the WUSA between June and November in 2001. Researchers collected a total of 1,312 responses (314 from the L. League and 998 from the WUSA).A comparison between the two leagues revealed: 1) 62.1% of attendance was female in the WUSA while 72.1% in the L. League was male; 2) 94.2% of attendance in the WUSA came to the games with their family and/or friends while 40.2% in the L. League came alone, 3) Triggered by the booming of the Women's World Cup in 1999 (WWC99), the WUSA poses a large popularity, and 73.8% of female spectators in the WUSA preferred female soccer to male soccer.As to the socio-psychological factors, spectators in the L. League and the WUSA were both affected by the factors of Interest in Soccer, Aesthetics, Drama of Game, and Wholesome Environment. Spectators in the WUSA especially females placed importance on Role Model and Support Women's Sport. On the other hand, the L. League spectators were well connected with the factors of Vicarious Achievement, Entertainment, and Interest in Player.These findings suggested that the popularity of female soccer in the United States was based on the following factors: 1) success of the WWC99; 2) existence of female star players as role models for realization of gender equity; 3) women's will for support of women's sport; and 4) status of spectator sport as a healthy entertainment one can enjoy with one's family and/or friends.