DAVID OR MIA? THE IMPACT OF GENDERED HEROISM ON ADOLESCENT GIRLS AND THEIR SPORT ROLE MODELS

This paper explores the relationship between adolescent girls and their sport role models with a particular focus on gender. Social learning theory as well as gender theory are considered. Based on quantitative and qualitative data collected in Australia through two focus group interviews and questionnaires (n=357) the researchers found that gender influences the choice of sport role models of adolescent girls. When asked to nominate their role model, girls overwhelmingly choose a female role model, however, when their role model came from the sporting domain the percentage of female role models decreased. Further, qualitative comments support the notion that gender and gendered heroism play a critical role in the adoption of sport role models by adolescent girls. The authors argue that sport role models, in traditional gender terms, are ideologically contradictory. A trend towards acceptance of a multiple femininities and masculinities perspective may be a prospect for change. Adolescent girls and sport role models 3 David or Mia? The influence of gender on adolescent girls’ choice of sport role models Jess is an 18 year old girl from Indian descent living in the United Kingdom with a passion for soccer. On her bedroom wall hangs a poster of her hero, David Beckham. She often talks to him about her aspirations as a soccer player; he inspires her to pursue her dream. Her team mate Jules, on the other hand, admires a female soccer player, the American superstar Mia Hamm, who led her team to Olympic and World Cup victory. Gurinder Chadha, producer and director of the movie Bend it like Beckham starring Parminder Nagra as Jess Bhamra and Keira Knightley as Jules Paxton, shows amongst other themes, how sport stars can be powerful role models for adolescent girls. There is widespread popular belief that successful elite athletes, such as David Beckham, Mia Hamm, Cathy Freeman (Australian gold medalist at the Sydney Olympics) and Ian Thorpe (legendary Australian swimmer), are influential role models who can inspire adolescents to become or stay involved in sport and physical activity. This paper explores the influence of gender on the relationship between adolescent girls and their sport role models. [When girls choose a role model and in particular a sport role model, the question is the extent to which gender matters or do they look beyond gender to focus on other qualities? The concept of role model needs clarification as different meanings are given in the literature (see MacCallum & Beltman, 2002, for a review). For the purpose of this study a role model is considered to be someone a person likes to imitate, to be like. It is a person who is perceived as exemplary and worthy. Role models need to be distinguished from mentors and heroes. Although the concepts are related there are some pertinent differences (Maccallum & Beltman, 2002, Yancey, 1998; Javidan, Bemmels, Devine & Dastmalchian, 1995; Daloz, 1986). A Adolescent girls and sport role models 4 mentor is an advisor, coach, guide or confidente who has a personal relationship with the mentee. She or he plays an active role in supporting the mentee when facing challenging tasks or difficult periods. A mentor can be a role model for the mentee but doesn’t have to be one. In contrast, a role model tends to play a more passive role, evolves over time and doesn’t necessarily have direct personal contact. In fact, she or he may not be aware that she or he is the role model for a particular person. This is also true for heroes, who are held in positive regard and described in terms of subjective admiration (Bromnick & Swallow, 1999). Children and adolescents often talk about pop stars, actors and sport celebrities as their heroes, people they admire, however this does not mean that they necessarily wish to be like them. In the case of heroes, the observer may not wish to imitate or model the hero’s behaviour. Jennifer Hargreaves (2000) agrees that heroes and heroines are men and women who are “larger than life” and “inspirational people” with extraordinary qualities. She adds that they are “socially constructed through discourses and meanings and values that change over time” (p. 1). This notion of socially constructed heroism is a most important one and will be further explored later in the paper as part of gender theory