Ninth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

This research will highlight the visual voices of eight high school female athletes and their lived experiences. Through in depth qualitative interviews and photovoice methodology, participants were asked questions related to: family dynamics, friends, classmates and relationships, educational experiences and expectations, their identity as an athlete, social and cultural messages, sport/ life balance, gender discrimination, coach and teammate interaction, and future goals. The participants also identified various challenges they faced related to their intersecting identities and their experiences an athlete, as well as the ways in which they navigated these challenges. They took photographs of the challenges they faced, as well as the empowering aspects of identifying as a female athlete. The themes and photographs from the participants will serve to highlight issues of importance in their lives. This presentation will conclude implications for research and practice when working with young female athletes.