This book examines the construction of gender and
identity formation processes among college-aged
female athletes within the culture of a traditionally
male dominated sport. It explores how the players
negotiate and define femininity and considers the
role of the school in the formation of the
participants identities from high school into
college. The sport examined in this book is women s
rugby. Using a feminist perspective, the book serves
to extend and contribute new thoughts to the
literature on the construction of femininity and
identity formation processes among young women,
specifically within the culture of sport. Main areas
that have been developed are: the factors influencing
identity formation among the women including the role
of schooling and social class; the participants use
of primary and secondary texts in the construction of
discourse; and, the creation of an alternative
discourse of femininity in relation to a dominant
discourse of femininity.
identity formation processes among college-aged
female athletes within the culture of a traditionally
male dominated sport. It explores how the players
negotiate and define femininity and considers the
role of the school in the formation of the
participants identities from high school into
college. The sport examined in this book is women s
rugby. Using a feminist perspective, the book serves
to extend and contribute new thoughts to the
literature on the construction of femininity and
identity formation processes among young women,
specifically within the culture of sport. Main areas
that have been developed are: the factors influencing
identity formation among the women including the role
of schooling and social class; the participants use
of primary and secondary texts in the construction of
discourse; and, the creation of an alternative
discourse of femininity in relation to a dominant
discourse of femininity.