Date of Award
12-1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. Susan Caringella-MacDonald
Second Advisor
Dr. Thomas VanValey
Third Advisor
Dr. Ronald Kramer
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
This study examined whether or not professional football players, because of the violence and aggression associated with their sport, tended to have attitudes that condoned or were conducive to violence against women. The forty-six subjects in this study were active members on teams in the National Football League and/or the National Football League sponsored World League. Information was gathered through the sue of self-reporting, non-random, questionnaires and interviews.
The study also explored the dynamics of domestic violence, the linking of aggression with professional sports and the characteristics of sport in United States society, especially as it relates to masculinity and sexism. The findings of this study indicate that neither gender views, marital status, years of experience nor the presence of children had a significant impact on attitudes of violence toward women. Nonetheless, negative, sexist and otherwise disapproving attitudes on the part of football players toward women were found to exist. Recommendations to reduce these negative attitudes were discussed.
Recommended Citation
O'Toole, Shannon Marie, "Professional Football Players Attitudes Toward Women and Violence" (1997). Masters Theses. 4164.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4164