Abstract

This study investigates fifty-one girls (mean age 15.9 in high school) and their experiences and treatment participating in the male-dominated sport of wrestling, over forty years after the passage of Title IX, which mandated equal rights for women in sports. Girls were interviewed about how they saw women fitting into the world of wrestling and how others perceived them as girl wrestlers. Findings indicate that while girls report a cultural shift in how women wrestlers are perceived, they also recognize the many ways that they are still fighting for equal resources and treatment. These girls are creating a new idea of what it means to be both mentally and physically strong. Implications from this study can provide coaches with a better understanding of how to approach the increasing number of girls participating in male-dominated sports and offers insight into experiences in high school wrestling under Title IX.