Living the paradox: female athletes negotiate femininity and muscularity

Sex Roles: A Journal of Research,  March, 2004  by Vikki Krane,  Precilla Y.L. Choi,  Shannon M. Baird,  Christine M. Aimar,  Kerrie J. Kauer

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Other athletes also noted that their eating differentiated them from her nonathletic peers. Their nonathlete female friends often commented about how much they ate compared to normal women. For example, Distance Runner 2 described that friends stated: "I'll go out to dinner with [nonathlete friends] and I'll have like three big plates and they'll have like one little one, and I'll be done with everything and they're still eating."

Through many different avenues, the athletes were reminded that they were different. They were larger, more assertive, more muscular, and they ate more than normal women. The athletes also were not considered feminine because of their body shape and their casual attire. To be considered socially acceptable, they sometimes created an alternate identity from athlete--that of a feminine woman.

Physicality

An intriguing higher order theme emerged related to the Physicality of Sport. Although the athletes struggled with the conflict between being perceived in a socially desirable manner and excelling in their sport, they also discussed the benefits of their sport participation. The data categories of function, pride, and empowerment described some of these benefits.

Function

One mechanism of reconciling the contradiction between having a culturally ideal body and being athletic women was their focus on the function of their size and strength. To be competitive, it was essential that they were strong and muscular. Throughout the interviews, they stated that they gained much muscle size because of their weight lifting. Yet, they also described the benefits of weightlifting as "it does make me stronger," "it makes me hit harder and maybe even quicker" (tennis player), and "help[s] you take off more on the ice if you want to pick your legs up faster" (hockey player). A Track Athlete 1 stated:

      I wanna concentrate on [my sport] totally and so I listen to the
      weightlifting [coach] like totally. I'm like, 'what do I do? Ok.
      How much weight? Ok I'll do it.'... I just wanna be the best I
      can be, so I just think I have to follow everything like to the
      T ... I like to lift.... I do it because I have to because it will
      make me better. So I just do it.

The athletes also discussed the benefits of having large muscles, which made them more competitive. As an athlete described, "When you compete you want [muscles] because that's intimidating" (Track Athlete 3).

Pride

The athletes discussed the pride they felt in their athletic achievements. These sportswomen worked hard to be competitive at the college level. Their commitment and effort resulted in pride in being an athlete. Distance Runner 2 stated: "I think girl athletes are sexy.... I think it's cool that we go out there and do that." Although these athletes acknowledged that models portray the culturally ideal body, the following interaction shows how they reconciled the difference between being valued for one's looks versus being valued for one's skill: