Abstract

This study will look at how the idea of hegemonic masculinity impacts the male football player and shapes their idea of what it means to be a man. Through an analysis of semi-structured focus groups and semi-structured individual interviews of a recognized NCAA division three football team, multiple themes emerged as to how hegemonic masculinity has shaped the idea for what it means to be man for these male athletes. Broadly speaking, these themes concern self identity, the way in which a football player presents himself and is perceived by others, and their presentation of gender and masculinity. Once the data was collected and analyzed the prominent findings that emerged provided insight on how football has contributed to these athletes’ perspective of what it means to be a man. For these college football players, there are multiple factors that contribute to their conception of manhood, including brotherhood, playing through the pain, and recognizing that they live with a double self. Each of these concepts have been established and learned through the culture of football. From each considerable finding it can be inferred that for some football players, being a man is about commitment, responsibility, and among other things accountability to oneself and to others.

Advisor

Mariola, Matthew

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Sociology

Publication Date

2017

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2017 Yasmine Hunt-Strong