Social Acceptance of Female Athletes by College Women

Abstract

Two groups of college women, 120 athletes and 120 nonathletes, from Arizona State University responded to biographical sketches of four stimulus persons: college women described as high-success aspiration softball player, low-success aspiration softball player, high-success aspiration dancer, and low-success aspiration dancer. Each stimulus person was rated for degree of social acceptability on a four-item questionnaire. The results suggest that women athletes feel a strong sense of identity with other women athletes; no significant negative attitude toward women competing in team sports was detected; and there was no evidence that high aspiration detracted from the social acceptability of college women.