Latina Wrestlers: Family Support in a Male-Dominated Sport

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Eight
  In Roundtable Session: Family, Community, and Belonging in Adolescent Development (Table 12)

Abstract

This study explores thirty-one Latina wrestlers (mean age 15.9) in high school and their experiences in the sport. The purpose of this article is to expand on the little research that brings attention to the experiences of Latinas involved in organized sports, particularly, how they make sense of their multiple identities as a minoritized demographic. Findings indicate that female high school wrestlers develop a myriad of positive assets that include positive relationships and positive ideals regarding gender construction and gender roles, thus, pushing back on specific cultural norms such as marianismo.

Authors

• Marilyn Castro, University of California - Santa Barbara
  Presenting Author

• Rebeca Mireles-Rios, University of California - Santa Barbara
  Non-Presenting Author