Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Spring 2007 Women's Athletics and the Athletic Patriarchy Cynthia Jane Lynes Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Recommended Citation Lynes, Cynthia Jane, "Women's Athletics and the Athletic Patriarchy" (2007). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 472. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/472 This dissertation (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. WOMEN’S ATHLETICS AND THE ATHLETIC PATRIARCHY by CYNTHIA JANE DICKERSON LYNES (Under the Direction of John Weaver) ABSTRACT This research is a qualitative, case study of five women who have successful careers in the male dominated field of athletics. An interview was done with each woman to determine whether her professional/personal life had been affected in any way by the athletic patriarchy and how their experiences were similar or different. The purpose of this research was to examine the influences of the athletic patriarchy on women’s athletics and to explore issues of power and gender within these influences. Research questions asked were: How has the construction of gender identity by the athletic patriarchy affected women’s athletics? What part has gender played in the evolution of women’s athletics? Why is the athletic patriarchy so powerful and how has it been so successful in keeping women marginalized in athletics? Women were selected to participate in this research based on their careers.