CUP Undergraduate Research
Title
Gender Role Perception and Sport Participation among Females
Date of Award
Spring 5-6-2009
Document Type
Restricted Access Thesis
College
College of Theology, Arts, & Sciences
Department
Psychology
Degree Name
Psychology, BA
First Advisor
Erin Mueller, PhD
Abstract
While popular opinion still holds sport as a traditionally male domain, it is vital to recognize the rising number of female participation in the last thirty years. Additionally, females’ perceived ability to hold both masculine and feminine characteristics has become more apparent. This present study examines the relationship between female athletes’ gender role perception and their intent to continue playing. Research is primarily based on Bem’s gender schema theory. First, it was hypothesized that female athletes’ expressed intention to continue sport will not correlate gender role perception (i.e., male or female). Secondly, it was hypothesized that results will show a majority of the female athletes categorized as psychologically androgynous. Consistent with the initial hypothesis, there was no significant relationship between gender role perception and expressed intention to continue in sport in a sample of 30 freshmen and sophomore female collegiate athletes. The second hypothesis was unsupported, although results yielded further information indicating a majority of athletes, if not categorically androgynous, were categorically masculine.
Honors: Thesis with Distinction Award