A qualitative analysis of the interpersonal experiences of bisexual women in a team sport environment

dc.contributor.advisorShannon-McCallum, Charlene
dc.contributor.authorde Montarnal, Jacqueline
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-01T16:20:51Z
dc.date.available2023-03-01T16:20:51Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.date.updated2016-05-04T00:00:00Z
dc.description.abstractWhile there is a growing amount of research pertaining to the experiences of gay and lesbian participants in sport, there is currently a scarcity of knowledge surrounding the experiences of bisexual individuals within the context of sport. The little literature which does exist fails to address the experiences of bisexual individuals specifically. This study seeks to add to the literature pertaining to bisexual individuals within sport by exploring the experiences of bisexual-identifying women within a team sport context. Through the use of a constructivist epistemology, and employing a symbolic interactionist framework, six semi-structured interviews were analyzed using a methodology rooted in grounded theory. The data showed the current experiences of the Canadian women interviewed within their team sport environments were viewed positively. However, the positive nature of their experiences appeared to be due, in part, to their own successful navigation of their social spheres within sport. The data illustrated that the women’s interactions with team members were interpreted differently when they were closeted compared to when they were out to their teams; when closeted, their interactions were often dictated by fear. Regardless of their age, the women described situations where they were uncomfortable in their sport environment because of their bisexual identity. This discomfort led them to manage their stigmatized sexual identities in one of three ways: (1) through remaining closeted and/or avoiding disclosing or discussing their sexual identity; (2) through navigating their interpersonal experiences for the comfort of others; and (3) through finding “supportive environments” where team members were perceived to be accepting their sexual identities.
dc.description.copyright© Jacqueline de Montarnal, 2016
dc.description.noteA Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Sport and Recreation Studies in the Graduate Academic Unit of the Faculty of Kinesiology
dc.formattext/xml
dc.format.extentvi, 118 pages
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.identifier.urihttps://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/13593
dc.language.isoen_CA
dc.publisherUniversity of New Brunswick
dc.rightshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
dc.subject.disciplineKinesiology
dc.titleA qualitative analysis of the interpersonal experiences of bisexual women in a team sport environment
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineKinesiology
thesis.degree.fullnameMaster of Arts in Sport & Recreation Studies
thesis.degree.fullnameMaster of Arts (Sports and Recreation Studies)
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of New Brunswick
thesis.degree.levelmasters
thesis.degree.nameM.A.S.R.C.

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
item.pdf
Size:
618.43 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format