Clemson University TigerPrints All Theses Theses 5-2017 Exploring the Masculine Domain of Professional Football: Perceptions of Credibility of Female Coaches in the NFL Morgan Elizabeth Tadlock Clemson University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses Recommended Citation Tadlock, Morgan Elizabeth, "Exploring the Masculine Domain of Professional Football: Perceptions of Credibility of Female Coaches in the NFL" (2017). All Theses. 2677. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/2677 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. EXPLORING THE MASCULINE DOMAIN OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL: PERCEPTIONS OF CREDIBILITY OF FEMALE COACHES IN THE NFL A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Communication, Technology, and Society by Morgan Elizabeth Tadlock May 2017 Accepted by: Dr. Bryan Denham, Committee Chair Dr. Erin Ash Dr. Angela Pratt ABSTRACT Previous research shows that females are underrepresented in the masculine domain of sport. More specifically, the hyper-masculine domain of professional football has presented women with much resistance when trying to enter the industry. Hegemonic masculinity has some responsibility for maintaining this resistance. The current study uses the lens of hegemonic masculinity to explore the space of professional football and its progression toward equality for females. Despite the first full-time female coach being hired by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, very little research exists on the topic.