Early Experiences With Sport and Gender in the Southeast United States

As research aims to understand the potential for youth development through sport, it is important to consider gender in exploring experiential differences. Previous literature shows that gender stereotype beliefs were consistently related to sport participation in youth athletes and girls often have a narrower window of opportunity to participate. However, quantitative measures fail to capture nuance and context that may drive detailed differences in gendered experiences. Qualitative interviews may provide more thorough insight. The purpose of this study was to understand common themes from young adult stories discussing sport and gender while exploring the culture of youth sport in the southeast United States. Participants in this study were 18–24 years old and participated in youth sport (age 6–18) in the southeast United States. Results from 24 interviews (14 women, one nonbinary, nine men) were analyzed using feminist standpoint theory as the guiding framework. This analysis process elevated the voices of nonmen by inductively analyzing their interviews first. Once themes were finalized, the nine men’s interviews were deductively coded using that framework. Resulting narratives describe how athletes view their sport experiences globally (e.g., intensity, status), through relationships (e.g., coaches, peers), and individually (i.e., self-reflection). Within each theme, codes identify gendered versus general experiences. Narratives first describe experiences of the marginalized and are supplemented by storytelling from men’s data. Moving forward, it is critical to consider the intersection of gender with social, developmental, and experiential aspects of youth sport to better amplify the voices of groups underrepresented in sports.