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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2019
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Jeffrey J. Martin
Abstract
In this I dissertation examined the relationships among gender-typing of sports, perceptions of gender stereotypes, and gender and athletic identities of middle school, African-American (AA) girl athletes. Using Erikson’s identity theory (1980) and Tajfel’s (1981) social identity theory, I hypothesized that athletes who perceive their sport type as feminine, personally endorse gender stereotypes, and perceive that significant others personally endorse gender stereotypes will have a lower athletic identity and a more feminine gender identity than athletes who personally do not nor perceive that others endorse gender stereotypes. Using a convenience sample of athletes from sports programs hat primarily serve African American girls, questionnaires were distributed to approximately 200 participants. The questionnaire included demographic data items, a gender-typing of sport question, the Personal Endorsement of Gender Stereotypes Scale (PEGSS) (Bonnot & Croizet, 2007), Egan and Perry’s (2001) Gender Identity Scale, and the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) (Brewer et al., 1993). To determine if gender typing of sport and gender stereotype perceptions based on self, parents, siblings, teammates and coaches can predict athletic and gender identities, I ran two standard multiple regression analyses; one for each identity. Results indicated that athletes who typed their sport as feminine had lower AI than athletes who typed their sport differently, F(3,187) = 2.71, p < .05, and athletes who perceived that their coaches personally endorsed gender sport stereotypes had a more feminine GI compared to athletes who did not perceive that their coaches personally endorsed stereotypes, F(10, 180) = 1.932, p < .05. This research adds to adolescent identity theory development, addresses research gaps for African American girls, and has practical application for youth sport leaders.
Keywords: African American girls, athletes, identity, gender, stereotypes
Recommended Citation
Lewis Watts, Michele, "Social Influences On Athletic And Gender Identities Among Adolescent African American Girl Athletes" (2019). Wayne State University Dissertations. 2301.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/2301