The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athletes (N= 43) regarding stereotypical cartoons about athletes. A qualitative approach, which included a visual elicitation technique, was utilized by administering the Lifestyle Association & Representation of Athletes Scale (LARAS). The LARAS explored participants’ perceptions of the following six specific concepts: a) academic support issues; b) academic progress; c) coaches as educators; d) professional sport aspirations; e) media identities, advertising, and representation; and f) cultural issues and recruiting. Five major themes emerged from participants’ perceptions: Big Sport Business, Athletic Image, College Athlete Mindset, Realistic/False Representation, and Institutional Focus. Goffman’s (1959) theory of social stigma and Loury’s (2002) theory on racial stigma are related to the perceptions revealed by the college student-athletes in this study. Implications and recommendations for sport scholars and practitioners are provided.
- African American Studies,
- African History,
- Business Administration, Management, and Operations,
- Civic and Community Engagement,
- Civil Rights and Discrimination,
- Cultural History,
- Curriculum and Instruction,
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations,
- Ethnic Studies,
- Feminist Philosophy,
- Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication,
- History of Gender,
- Inequality and Stratification,
- Law and Gender,
- Indigenous Studies,
- Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies,
- Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies,
- Social and Cultural Anthropology,
- Sports Management,
- Sports Sciences,
- Sports Studies,
- Women's History and
- Women's Studies
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/keith_harrison/15/