Relationship Between Gender Role Norms, Sport Participation and Body Esteem

The results of the study provided mixed sup- port for the third hypothesis that athlete status, self-perceptions of body dissatisfaction, and conformity to traditional feminine norms (i.e., Thinness, Invest in Appearance) would predict body esteem. Participation in athletics did not significantly predict body esteem, once other variables were entered that explained more of the variance in body esteem. Despite reporting feelings of bodily competence and a sense of pride in their powerful athletic physique (e.g., Blinde, Taub, & Han, 1993), past research has indicated that female athletes reported feelings of body dissatisfaction stemming from their efforts to portray a traditionally feminine appearance, especially in social settings (Krane et al., 2004; Ross & Shinew, 2008). Richman and Shaffer (2000) also suggested that sport participation may have a negative influence on self worth if female athletes are concerned about their nontraditional behavior and/or others’ negative reactions to this nonconformity to societal standards of traditional femininity. Thus, the results of this study are consistent with past findings that female student-athletes’ perceived incompatibility between their athletic physique and the feminine ideal body may negatively influence their body image (Krane et al., 2004; Richman & Shaffer, 2000; Ross & Shinew, 2008).
The overall model predicted over half of the variance in body esteem, with three gender role socialization norms and self-perceptions of being overweight emerging as significant predictors. Specifically, higher self-perceptions of being overweight predicted lower levels of body esteem, while higher levels of conformity to the Risk Taking masculine norm predicted higher levels of body esteem. Additionally, conformity to this Risk Taking norm was found to be higher among female student-athletes in this sample. Based on past research (e.g., Daniels & Leaper, 2006; Melendez, 2006), the experience of participating in intercollegiate sport (presumably having also participated in youth and high school sport in order to be good enough to play in college) may contribute to the development of a more confident sense of self, especially related to one’s physical competence (Blinde et al., 1993; Krane et al., 2004; Richman & Shaf- fer, 2000). Thus, it is possible that this increased sense of self-confidence may be related to better body esteem, particularly among female athletes. Future researchers should more directly examine this dynamic in order to provide in- sight into this relationship between risk-taking and body esteem.
Results also indicated that higher levels of conformity to the Relational feminine norm predicted higher levels of body esteem. Conformity to this Relational norm involves valuing relationships and collaborations with others, which according to our results, was related to higher levels of body esteem among women. In interpreting this result, perhaps the social support that friends provide contributes to greater body esteem among women, in addition to other aspects of self-confidence (e.g., Blinde et al., 1993; Krane et al., 2004; Richman & Shaffer, 2000). As it relates to athletic participation, components of the Relational norm may be manifest in team camaraderie, which may con- tribute to better body esteem among female athletes. It is also possible that the athletic environment may provide female athletes with the opportunity to share body ideals (e.g., strength, muscularity) that are necessary for success in sport, which may also contribute to better body esteem. Future researchers should explore the possibility of the link between traditional feminine values (e.g., sharing, relationship- orientation, cooperation, interdependence) and body esteem, particularly among female athletes.
While conformity to the Relational feminine norm was positively related to body esteem, higher conformity to the Thinness feminine norm was inversely related. Thus, the results suggested that the more a woman desires to be thin, the lower levels of body esteem she reports. This finding is consistent with literature that suggests that the societal pressure for women to be thin may be detrimental to the body esteem of women (Green et al., 2008; Mahalik et al., 2005a; Smolak et al., 2000). Pressure to conform to cultural standards of femininity and body esteem– combined with the prospect that aspects of the athletic environment may increase risks of disordered eating among some women (e.g., Thompson & Sherman, 2000, 2009)–are areas that need to continue to be revisited and addressed among student- athletes. Past research has reported the prevalence of disordered eating as high as 62% of female college students (see Hawes, 1999; Thrash & Anderson, 2000; West, 1998). Thus, messages concerning gender norms and body image that are conveyed within sport need to be more closely examined so we can have a better understanding of this environment which may paradoxically provide the potential for greater body esteem, yet also contribute to increased levels of disordered eating among female participants.