Moms, Sisters, and Ladies

Abstract

This study presents accounts of nine women student athletic trainers (SATs) working as interns in an athletic program at a large university. The presence of women within a historically closed masculine sport environment was resolved by viewing the women within the traditionally feminine roles of “mom,”“sister,” and “lady.” Subject to overt and subtle discrimination, sexist and misogynist behavior, as well as sexual harassment and imposition, the women were essentially forced to choose among behaviors that either “defeminized” or “deprofessionalized” them. A professional attitude was generally favorable to coaches and supervisors yet defeminized them in the eyes of peer trainers and male athletes. On the other hand, a sociable attitude permitted positive peer relations but deprofessionalized them in the eyes of peer trainers and male athletes. Hence, while the mom, sister, and lady labels sometimes prevented offensive behavior by men, they contributed to the women's professional disempowerment and sexualization.