The purpose of this study is to determine if male athlete perceptions of female athletic
trainers affect their comfort levels with them during rehabilitation. Other purposes of the study
were to determine the possible reasons male athletes can feel discomfort during rehabilitation.
The representative sample that was used involved twenty collegiate male athletes enrolled in
Kean University. A survey, checklist, and open ended question was given to the sample asking
the male athletes to rate their comfort levels, check off their reasons for discomfort, and describe
the qualities of athletic trainers of both sexes. Results of the study found that male athlete
discomfort was dependent on the illness or injury that was being treated. …show more content…
1). The
athletic training community began as a profession that was dominated by males. As the years
have passed, athletic training as a career has grown in both size and diversity. Statistics show
that in 2007, about half of the members of the National Athletic Training Association were
females (Kent, 2011). With the recent influx of female athletic trainers in the profession, the
topics of gender perceptions and comfort levels among male athletes have risen. These topics
are important in a field such as athletic training because the foundation of athletic training is built
on trust and comfort to ensure proper assessments are made. The following studies deal with
issues such as stereotypes, comfort levels, and trust levels of females and put previous research
of the topics into perspective.
An athletic trainer, male or female, must possess leadership qualities in order to take
control of situations and lead their patients through the struggle of an injury and its rehabilitation
process. However, previous research has shown that gender roles can affect the perceptions of
leadership qualities. A study conducted by Retamero and Lopez (2006) revealed …show more content…
Therefore, predictions in the trends can lead to the hypothesis that as time progresses, prejudice
will dissipate.
Although there is evidence supporting that there is apparent prejudice towards female
leaders, other evidence supports that females are just as likely to be chosen for leadership roles.
A study performed by Kent and Moss (1994) attempted to examine the relationship between
gender roles and leadership. Their findings suggested that biological sex was of less importance
than gender traits when being regarded as a leader. Results found that individuals who portrayed
androgynous characteristics have similar opportunities to emerge as a leader with individuals
who portray masculine traits (Kent & Moss 1994). Trends of the study showed that having
female characteristics did not hinder one’s ability to be deemed a leader. However, those with
strictly feminine characteristics were not perceived as highly as those with androgynous or
masculine characteristics. The conclusions revealed the importance of portraying a certain
gender role and adhering to it. Adherence to gender characteristics was overall of
trainers affect their comfort levels with them during rehabilitation. Other purposes of the study
were to determine the possible reasons male athletes can feel discomfort during rehabilitation.
The representative sample that was used involved twenty collegiate male athletes enrolled in
Kean University. A survey, checklist, and open ended question was given to the sample asking
the male athletes to rate their comfort levels, check off their reasons for discomfort, and describe
the qualities of athletic trainers of both sexes. Results of the study found that male athlete
discomfort was dependent on the illness or injury that was being treated. …show more content…
1). The
athletic training community began as a profession that was dominated by males. As the years
have passed, athletic training as a career has grown in both size and diversity. Statistics show
that in 2007, about half of the members of the National Athletic Training Association were
females (Kent, 2011). With the recent influx of female athletic trainers in the profession, the
topics of gender perceptions and comfort levels among male athletes have risen. These topics
are important in a field such as athletic training because the foundation of athletic training is built
on trust and comfort to ensure proper assessments are made. The following studies deal with
issues such as stereotypes, comfort levels, and trust levels of females and put previous research
of the topics into perspective.
An athletic trainer, male or female, must possess leadership qualities in order to take
control of situations and lead their patients through the struggle of an injury and its rehabilitation
process. However, previous research has shown that gender roles can affect the perceptions of
leadership qualities. A study conducted by Retamero and Lopez (2006) revealed …show more content…
Therefore, predictions in the trends can lead to the hypothesis that as time progresses, prejudice
will dissipate.
Although there is evidence supporting that there is apparent prejudice towards female
leaders, other evidence supports that females are just as likely to be chosen for leadership roles.
A study performed by Kent and Moss (1994) attempted to examine the relationship between
gender roles and leadership. Their findings suggested that biological sex was of less importance
than gender traits when being regarded as a leader. Results found that individuals who portrayed
androgynous characteristics have similar opportunities to emerge as a leader with individuals
who portray masculine traits (Kent & Moss 1994). Trends of the study showed that having
female characteristics did not hinder one’s ability to be deemed a leader. However, those with
strictly feminine characteristics were not perceived as highly as those with androgynous or
masculine characteristics. The conclusions revealed the importance of portraying a certain
gender role and adhering to it. Adherence to gender characteristics was overall of