Rethinking Athletics Through a Feminist Lens

For my joint thesis in both English and Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies, I explore the topic of women in athletics, with a specific emphasis on its social implications. Through this study, I examine the culture of competition, the expectation for perfection, and the problematic stereotypes surrounding female athletes. I analyze various facets of female athletics and the depiction of the female athlete in the media, literature, and film to better understand the politics and biases of their representation in these outlets. In this way, I research the intersections of identity, gender, and sports through a feminist lens to conceptualize the manner in which they influence a woman’s sense of self. I therefore have a specific focus on narratives pertaining to adolescent and college years, as this proves to be a pivotal time in the formation of an individual’s identity. To support my research and ultimate conclusion, I draw upon the portrayals of several female athletes in biographical works and upon interviews conducted with other individuals in athletics. I also incorporate my own personal experience as a female athlete to synthesize my findings. I highlight the problematic way that we as women have been indoctrinated to view ourselves as athletes specifically, and people in general, in an inferior way. I conclude that we must continue to learn from these events in an effort to imagine a more equal reality, in both sports and everyday life, regardless of gender.