Play Like a Girl: Examining the Stigma of Women’s Health and Menstruation in Sports
Name: Rachel Marie Osterhouse
Major: Sociology
Minor: Political Science
Advisors: Thomas Tierney, Setsuko Matsuzawa
This research paper examines the stigma surrounding women檚 health and the menstrual cycle in sports. My study begins by tracing women檚 sports history through literature in order to track where the stigma may have started. It then focuses on studies of women檚 sports teams and athletes to assess how the stigma manifests itself in the present day. Furthermore, the study draws from Erving Goffman檚 theories of stigma and presentation of the self, as well as Dorothy Smith檚 feminist standpoint theory. Finally, using a mixed methods approach of interviews and surveys, I collected my own data from female athletes at a small liberal arts college in the Midwest. My results indicate that the comfortability levels of female athletes when talking about injuries and menstruation is determined by a number of factors, although there were commonalities in how respondents handled discomfort and self-preservation. Common themes included confiding in teammates, seeking alternative care, playing through injuries, and altering exercise routines. These themes coincide with those found in the literature, and can be traced back to Goffman and Smith檚 perspectives.
Posted in Comments Enabled, Independent Study, Symposium 2022 on April 26, 2022.
3 responses to “Play Like a Girl: Examining the Stigma of Women’s Health and Menstruation in Sports”
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Related Areas of Study
Sociology
The study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.
Major MinorPolitical Science
The study of power, with concentrations in U.S. politics, international relations, political theory and comparative politics.
Major Minor
Great to see how far you have come since FYS, congratulations Rachel!
Congrats Rachel! It’s very interesting to see the difference in comfort levels between talking to coaches about injuries vs. periods when they are both part of our bodily functions. What do you think are ways that the stigma with coaches could be reduced?
Congrats on a fascinating IS, Rachel!