We Can Be Athletic and Feminine, But Do We Want To? Challenging Hegemonic Femininity in Women's Sport

Abstract

More women than ever before are panicipating in a diverse array of sports. However, at the same time, this popularity accentuates the femininity of these sportswomen, protecting the “image” of women's sports. The underlying message is that athleticism and femininity contrddictory, and females have to go out of their way to show that they can be athletic and be socially accepted. Kolnes' (1995) concept of heterosexuality as an organizing principle in women's sport provides the foundation for understanding the social construction of females in sport. Generally, women who appear heterosexually feminine are privileged over women perceived as masculine. Consequences of nonconformity to hegemonic femininity in sport often include sexist and heterosexist ddiscrimination. This leads many sportswomen to emphasize feminine characteristics to avoid prejudice and discrimination. However, females perceived as too feminine are then sexualized and trivialized, leaving women to carefully balance athleticism with hegemonic femininity. However, in less traditional sport settings, females are resisting, challenging, and transforming expectations of hegemonic femininity.