Through Their Eyes: How Female Athletes Experience and Respond to Marginalization

Abstract

Sports media has contributed to a culture in which female athletes are represented as second tier within a culture that reinforces unfounded gender stereotypes. In my research, I utilized in-depth interviews to examine how female athletes and coaches respond to marginalization at the collegiate level. I examined what different support structures were most successful in justifying some of the negative impacts of marginalization for female athletes. I argue that although female athletes are relegated to a second-tier, supportive coaches and teammates help athletes stay more positive and focused in athletic areas.