Motherhood Penalty in Sport: Media Stories of Canadian Athlete Mothers
Author Information
Author(s): Kerry R. McGannon, Shaantanu Kulkarni, Willa Hladun, Andreas Bundon, Ann Pegoraro
Primary Institution: School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Laurentian University
Hypothesis
How do media narratives construct discrimination meanings for Canadian athlete mothers in their journeys to the 2020 Tokyo Games?
Conclusion
The study reveals that media narratives expose and challenge maternal discrimination in sport, highlighting the need for structural change regarding athlete parents.
Supporting Evidence
- Thematic narrative analysis identified three motifs linked to discrimination meanings: last shots, forced to choose, and more than us.
- Both athletes faced barriers and stressors related to their motherhood status while pursuing their Olympic dreams.
- Media narratives highlighted the emotional labor and societal pressures faced by athlete mothers.
Takeaway
This study looks at how stories about athlete mothers show the unfair challenges they face in sports, especially when trying to balance being a mom and an athlete.
Methodology
Thematic narrative analysis of media stories collected on Canadian athlete mothers' experiences leading to the Tokyo Games.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in media representation and the focus on specific athletes may overlook broader systemic issues faced by all athlete mothers.
Limitations
The study is limited to North American media stories and does not include perspectives from racialized athlete mothers.
Participant Demographics
Canadian athlete mothers, specifically boxer Mandy Bujold and basketball player Kim Gaucher.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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