- Library Home /
- Search Collections /
- Open Collections /
- Browse Collections /
- UBC Theses and Dissertations /
- The view from the bench : coaches’ perceptions of homonegativity...
Open Collections
UBC Theses and Dissertations
UBC Theses and Dissertations
The view from the bench : coaches’ perceptions of homonegativity in high school girls’ sports Longpre, Simone
Abstract
This thesis examines how and why homonegativity is manifested in girls' and women's organized, school-based sports. It questions the relationship between the social construction of gender, lesbian and non-heterosexual identity, and the regulation of girls in sports through traditional understandings of gender and sexuality. Of specific interest in this investigation, are the high school coaches of female athletes, their understanding and interpretation of these concepts, and how their beliefs are manifested in their coaching practice. Interviews were conducted with 5 coaches who teach and coach in high schools in the Vancouver School District. The stories of the participants weave a textured account of the relationship between sport, female athletes, coaching and the education system. Their discussions revealed the complexity of the relationship between coach and athlete, how homonegativity is interpreted and challenged in the broader education system, and the position and functioning of school athletics within that system. In addition, the coach's level of awareness and knowledge surrounding issues of oppression and discrimination, along with their personal experience as an athlete, teacher and coach, all contributed to, and informed their coaching practice. While some of the coaches in this study acknowledged or recognized gendered, sexist, heterosexist and homonegative attitudes and behaviors among the students, athletes and teachers in their schools, a number of them did not. It became apparent that homonegativity remains a deeply entrenched systemic problem in the school system. This was further evidenced by the fact that many of the study participants did not possess the knowledge, skills or language necessary to articulate, deconstruct and unveil homonegative behavior as systemic discrimination of non-heterosexuals. As a result subtle and subversive forms of homonegativity went unchallenged and uninterrupted. Those who were making efforts to educate students and athletes regarding homonegativity in sport were functioning in isolation, and had little support or resources to call on to unravel and combat sexual orientation bias.
Item Metadata
Title |
The view from the bench : coaches’ perceptions of homonegativity in high school girls’ sports
|
Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
|
Date Issued |
2006
|
Description |
This thesis examines how and why homonegativity is manifested in girls' and
women's organized, school-based sports. It questions the relationship between the
social construction of gender, lesbian and non-heterosexual identity, and the
regulation of girls in sports through traditional understandings of gender and
sexuality. Of specific interest in this investigation, are the high school coaches of
female athletes, their understanding and interpretation of these concepts, and how
their beliefs are manifested in their coaching practice.
Interviews were conducted with 5 coaches who teach and coach in high
schools in the Vancouver School District. The stories of the participants weave a
textured account of the relationship between sport, female athletes, coaching and
the education system. Their discussions revealed the complexity of the relationship
between coach and athlete, how homonegativity is interpreted and challenged in the
broader education system, and the position and functioning of school athletics within
that system. In addition, the coach's level of awareness and knowledge surrounding
issues of oppression and discrimination, along with their personal experience as an
athlete, teacher and coach, all contributed to, and informed their coaching practice.
While some of the coaches in this study acknowledged or recognized
gendered, sexist, heterosexist and homonegative attitudes and behaviors among the
students, athletes and teachers in their schools, a number of them did not. It became
apparent that homonegativity remains a deeply entrenched systemic problem in the
school system. This was further evidenced by the fact that many of the study participants did not possess the knowledge, skills or language necessary to
articulate, deconstruct and unveil homonegative behavior as systemic discrimination
of non-heterosexuals. As a result subtle and subversive forms of homonegativity
went unchallenged and uninterrupted. Those who were making efforts to educate
students and athletes regarding homonegativity in sport were functioning in isolation,
and had little support or resources to call on to unravel and combat sexual
orientation bias.
|
Genre | |
Type | |
Language |
eng
|
Date Available |
2010-01-05
|
Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
|
DOI |
10.14288/1.0055644
|
URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
|
Graduation Date |
2006-05
|
Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
|
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.