Gender Role Conflict
Traditionally, sports and athletics were considered primarily masculine activities. Fifty years ago, women were allowed to participate in sports, but it was not common; and if a woman was involved in a physical activity, it was most likely to be cheerleading, dancing, or something somewhat feminine. Today, partially in response to Title IX, many women play sports, lift weights, and are involved in other kinds of athletic activities. However, sports are still commonly thought of as masculine activities, not compatible with the traditional female roles. Because playing a sport is nontraditional, some have hypothesized that female athletes may experience gender role conflict because they are trying to be both "feminine" and fill the role of an "athlete."
Studies have been done on female athletes, and this hypothosis has not been supported. In a study done at the University of Portland, Royce, Gebelt, and Duff (2003) found that female athletes were given more respect than male athletes. Female athletes scored higher on the feminine than masculine side of gender issues. Female athletes claimed that their identities as feminine and athletic were not incompatible, and some thought of these two as separate entities, both of which they enjoyed.
At one time, this conflict based on gender roles may have had some backing to it, but today there really isn't much to support the idea that female athletes experience gender identity conflict. This could be because female participation in sports is rising so quickly and organizations like the Women's National Basketball Association are springing up everywhere. Female athletes are able to see themselves as both feminine and athletic, even though in the past these two worlds were deemed to be incompatible. One could even make the claim that being involved in a sport can help to foster a positive sense of identity and purpose. Instead of identifying oneself as a "woman," or a "person," or a "girl," females in sports are also able to identify themselves as "swimmers," or "runners," or "soccer players." Even better, a woman can add something else to this description that can make her feel unique and accomplished. She can call herself "a female swimmer," and be able to be someone that her great-grandmother could not. As more and more girls and women continue to be involved in athletics, the old negative stereotypes about athletic women may continue to disappear, leaving women even more free to be exactly who they wish to be.
References
Royce, stephen W, Janet Gebelt, and Robert Duff. Female athletes: being both athletic and feminine. 2003. volume 5.
Added 9/25/07