McNair Poster Presentations McNair Scholars Institute 2014 Gender Performance in Womens' Mixed Martial Arts Linda Tompkins University of Nevada, Las Vegas Michael Ian Borer University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/mcnair_posters Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons Repository Citation Tompkins, L., Borer, M. I. (2014). Gender Performance in Womens' Mixed Martial Arts. Available at: http://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/mcnair_posters/46 This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the McNair Scholars Institute at Digital Scholarship@UNLV. It has been accepted for inclusion in McNair Poster Presentations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GENDER PERFORMANCE IN WOMENSʼ MIXED MARTIAL ARTS" Linda Tompkins, McNair Scholar, Sociology Major" Dr. Michael Ian Borer, Faculty Mentor, Department of Sociology" . ABSTRACT! DATA ANALYSIS I also had experiences with being matched with other female fighters who expressed very feminine Academic research has typically focused on men who practice Mixed Martial Arts and Typology of Female Fighter Types: characteristics. In this scenario the direction typically went in two different directions. First, I would be CONCLUSION AND FUTHER STUDY! their expression of hyper-masculinity. There is a lack of comparative work which paired with another woman who would put up a good fight (Neutral Female Fighter) by the end of the The first step of this study was to create a typology describing the three examines women who practice MMA as a sport. This article aims to address this The first task I completed in conducting this research was creating a typology (see match we would typically say to each other “Good fight” or tap gloves to let each other know that it was female fighter types. I selected well known professional female fighters to oversight by exploring the meaning and importance of the sports for women. The main Table 1) to categorize and analyze different female fighter types. It is important to note that a good match. The second direction, was with women who were afraid to throw a hard punch or be hit represent each type. This allowed me to categorize and identify the focus is to explore how women navigate and “perform gender” in the patriarchal sub- fighters may change their position on the chart from time to time but they relatively remain with a hard punch (Feminine inclined female fighters). On various occasions I would ask them why they trained in MMA if they were afraid to hit or be hit. Even though there was a few different responses the mobility and static nature of gender. Gender is very often a “performance” culture of MMA. Drawing on a “grounded theory” approach, semi-structured interviews, the same on most occasions. and it is “scripted” in sports and MMA. This suggest that gender is not a content analysis, and participant observation, I developed a preliminary model of female most common was that it was to for “psychical fitness” or “to stay fit.” The conclusion I draw from my Table 1. Typology of Female MMA Fighters observations and experiences is that in training, people are very well aware of the roles and performance concrete entity and can be challenged and changes. The “gender order” Mixed Martial Artist. I examine three female fighter “types” (“Feminine inclined female they put on. MMA is still considered a sport for men. Despise its growing popularity amongst women Fighters,” “Neutral female fighters,” and “Masculine inclined female fighters”) and created through social norms often poses challenges for women in MMA. Fighter Types Description/Characteristics Examples of Pro Fighters those stereotypes and discriminatory factors are still very much alive and are reinforced by both males While some women adapt to masculine characteristics to recreate a sense explore different aspects of gender performance which helped to signify these. In my . and females toward female fighters. of “gender order” others choose to continue to embrace their femininity. In research I discovered that in MMA there is a “gender order.” Many times when the SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS. gender order is disrupted women seek to recreate it. This results in the adaptation and this research I decided to conduct interviews and content analysis and The third aspect of my research was conducting semi-structured interviews. Lisa King is a full contact navigation of the three fighter types that I mentioned previously. I also found that on Feminine inclined female Fighters Fighters that embody personality Miesha Tate professional Muay Thai fighter. She has appeared in the films “Ring Girls” and “Fight Girls” and the become a participant observer to further understand the experiences of many occasions women “purposely perform” a gender type making it an “explicit characteristics such as sensitivity or Gina Carano Fight Girls television series with Gina Carano, as a mentor and trainer to ten aspiring female fighters. She female fighters. I quickly found that attitudes amongst women often performance.” My findings demonstrate the need to consider the range and diversity of has won many competitions worldwide and is a true pioneer in the world of competitive fighting and depended highly on the attitudes of their opponents “fighter type”. This gentleness. Display emotions more Julianna Pena women’s fighter types. Further research should elaborate on the process of constructing a Mixed Martial Arts. My research has found that there is still a stigma associated with women fighters further suggest that gender is an “explicit performance” for many people. “gender order” amongst woman as well as the sociocultural expectations of female openly such as empathy, sadness and even today. Lisa King remembers when no woman was allowed to be in the UFC. My interview with There is a high level of criticism almost women in MMA. Possible studies fighters. Other research should also investigate how “gender order” applies to other Lisa King exemplifies many of the formal and informal interviews I conducted. According to her: concern. Physical characteristic may for the future could include exploring women’s attitudes towards other social worlds such as non-combat sports and other leisure activities, work and women in mixed martial arts. Another suggestion for future study could be occupations, and everyday life. include wearing gender associated colors “I remember doing an article with TIME MAGAZINE probably 2005-2006, this is back in the day when exploring is the experiences of women who take the “dominate” or such as pink and purple. Wearing Dana White said he would never allow women into the UFC, and I was quoted in TIME MAGAZINE saying, “If women can go to war then why wouldn’t we be allowed to fight?” masculine role to try to maintain the “gender order.” Women practicing INTRODUCTION! clothing that reveals large areas of the MMA is new and there are many opportunities to conduct further research. The purpose of this study is to explore how gender is constructed and performed by body. Wearing noticeable amounts of Somehow it is acceptable for women to put their lives on the line to defend our country but unacceptable for them to be professional fighters. We have come a long way because more women are now women who engage in Mixed Martial Arts. MMA has historically been a predominately make up during TV appearances, REFERENCES male sport. Men who engage in MMA typically express their masculinity by mainstream fighters but may people still struggle to accept women fighters. Most women fighters Connell, R. (2002). Cambridge, UK: Polity Press. promotional videos and perhaps while understand that women are looked at differently than men. Lisa says: Gender exaggerating the symbols and behaviors that make up typical and stereotypical male Connell, R., & Messerschmidt, J. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity: training. behavior. Hyper-masculine expectations to be tough and aggressive are encouraged in Rethinking the concept. , 829-859. “There is a different appreciation for it, having to change people minds about women fighters! In my Gender and Society, 19 the social world of Mixed Martial Arts. MMA is not considered a “feminine” sport— Neutral female fighters Fighters that embody both feminine and Ronda Rousey De Welde, K. 2003. Getting physical: Subverting gender through self- even by many women who practice it--resulting in a lack of understanding of why opinion women fight differently than men. Men are expected to know how to box, they are expect to masculine characteristics. Might express Raquel Pennignton defense. 32(3), 247-278. women engage in such an activity. The study that is more closely related and most often know how to throw punches. Women are expect to do other girly things. I don’t think women are trying Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, to compete with men but we do have something to prove. So we go out there and give it our all.” referenced is West and Zimmerman’s 1987 study on “Doing Gender.” West and signs of aggression but display clear Cat Zinganno Get Psyched for Saturday! Carano vs Cyborg. (2009). Retrieved September 20, 2014 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7dy6mHCFGs Zimmerman believe that gender is performative, therefore it is a routine accomplishment gender associated traits like wearing in everyday life, done in and through interaction and in the presence of others. Since True pioneers like Lisa King have pushed this sport forward for women but she knows first-hand the Glaser, B., & Strauss, A. (2008). The discovery of grounded theory: gender is performative it creates differences between men and women. These tend to make-up and feminine clothing or vise- obstacles that women fighters face She says that as far as how people perceived fighting and the obstacles Strategies for qualitative research. London, UK: Aldine Transaction.