UC Santa Barbara

This study investigates the experiences of fifty-one high school female wrestlers as they navigate the development of their athletic and individual identities. This study comes fifty years after the passage of Title IX which called for equal rights for women in sports and may serve as a checkpoint in evaluating where we are as a society as we strive for gender equity in sports. The female wrestlers in this study were interviewed about how they saw themselves fitting into the world of wrestling, how others perceived them as female athletes, and their coaching preferences. This study aims to shed light on the complex identity development that is navigated by female athletes, especially those in a male dominated sport, such as wrestling. The findings within this study indicate that while female athletes are still faced with gendered language that often “others” them and downplays their abilities, they experience identity empowerment and boosts in self-confidence through their participation in wrestling. Additionally, participants in this study identified communication and interpersonal support with coaches as two of the most important characteristics for coaches to possess. This study adds to the literature that supports the potential positive outcomes that girls can experience through their participation in sports. It also makes space for the voices of female athletes as they navigate the male dominated world of sports. Implications from this study can also inform the development of coach training programs and/or curriculums so that the needs of female athletes can be better met in the future.