A Phenomenological Review: Role Models & Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby

Open Access

Author:: Geleskie, Helen Rose
Area of Honors:: Anthropology
Degree:: Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:: Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:: Lorraine Dowler, Thesis Supervisor
Timothy Michael Ryan, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:: phenomenology
feminism
embodiment
empowerment
women's sports
roller derby
role models
Abstract:: In this thesis, I examine the phenomenon of role modeling in women’s flat track roller derby (a woman-focused contact sport played on roller skates) specifically exploring their presence and importance. As a non-professional sport with close proximity between participants and fans, roller derby creates female athlete role models that are accessible for young women. However, outside of the derby community, roller derby also has been represented as unrealistic performative entertainment, similar to wrestling, as opposed to a sport. The representation of derby as entertainment is heightened by the prominent presence of tattoos and fishnets in the sport, as well as the use of stage names. This thesis examines the results of interviews asking roller derby skaters their perceptions of role models within roller derby, and of themselves as role models. I compare results to feminist embodiment theory to question how roller derby contributes to the identity of the skaters, and how that identity is perceived by the women to whom roller derby skaters are potential role models.