Influence of the Volleyball Uniform on Female College Athletes’ Self Perceived Physical Appearance

Female college athletes have always struggled with meeting the cultural norms of femininity and still performing as an elite athlete. Being strong and powerful comes with some aesthetic gains that not all females report being comfortable with. In this qualitative study, the researcher examines the experience of the female athletes in relation to the revealing volleyball uniform. This study also explores the relationship between how the athlete’s self perceived physical appearance is affected in the sport as well as outside of competition. A previous study on Division I female volleyball athletes revealed a negative correlation between the uniform and the athletes’ perceived physical self. This research replicates the previous study’s methodology and design to find if there is a difference or similarity between Division I and Division Ⅱ female college volleyball athletes’ self perceived physical appearance. The results showed that Division ll athletes may not perceive the same amount of pressure that Division I athletes do to conform to the feminine norms in sport.