Hess, J: Muddy Ruggers

This book examines the construction of gender and identity formation processes among college-aged female athletes within the culture of a traditionally male dominated sport. It explores how the players negotiate and define femininity and considers the role of the school in the formation of the participants identities from high school into college. The sport examined in this book is women s rugby. Using a feminist perspective, the book serves to extend and contribute new thoughts to the literature on the construction of femininity and identity formation processes among young women, specifically within the culture of sport. Main areas that have been developed are: the factors influencing identity formation among the women including the role of schooling and social class; the participants use of primary and secondary texts in the construction of discourse; and, the creation of an alternative discourse of femininity in relation to a dominant discourse of femininity.