Publication Date

2020

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Rodgers, Diane M.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Sociology

Abstract

This research examines a predominately African American women’s professional amateur basketball league located on the Westside of Chicago, known as ASWBL Chicago Pro Am. The purpose of this study is to understand the influence of amateur league team membership on the development and continued support of women players, in particular self-esteem, confidence, and empowerment. This study also presents the common issues women amateur basketball players are faced with, such as stereotypes and analyze how basketball influences their intersectional identities. Through the application of feminist theory and an analysis of ethnography and 15 semi-structured interviews with women from ASWBL, many experiences of women basketball players are portrayed. My study found that women basketball players, specifically amateur players, receive a distinctive amount of support when participating in such kind of leagues. Results highlight the significance of basketball within these women lives.

Extent

70 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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Included in

Criminology Commons

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