Culture Creators: The Impact of Student-Athlete Status on National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III College Men

Abstract

Patriarchal systems of power, privilege, and oppression are reinforced by college men every day, but there are certain populations of college men who often have a stronger ability to influence change. Student-athlete men at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institutions are often viewed as “culture creators” on their campuses. Moreover, many of these athletic programs reside at smaller institutions, where the impact of toxic masculinity has potential to be more concentrated. Student-athlete men are often seen as representing hegemonic forms of masculinity, thereby having influence in setting norms of what is expected of men on campus. This chapter explores how participating in athletics and becoming a member of an NCAA Division III collegiate athletic team shapes the construction and perception of masculinity within college student-athlete men. Findings from a recent study will discuss how participants learned masculinity, felt added pressures as student-athletes, and viewed being a man in today’s society. Supporting examples and anecdotes will be provided from years of professional experience working alongside college athlete teams. Recommendations from this chapter include interventions to support student-athlete men in creating a healthy construction of their gender identity.