The Role of Women in Athletic Training: A Review of the Literature

Transcription

1 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal Volume 1 Issue 1 Article The Role of Women in Athletic Training: A Review of the Literature Leslie Martin Eastern Washington University, lmartin7@eagles.ewu.edu Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Law Commons, and the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Martin, Leslie (2013) "The Role of Women in Athletic Training: A Review of the Literature," Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1, Article 13. Available at: This Literature Review is brought to you for free and open access by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal. It has been accepted for inclusion in Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal by an authorized editor of Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal.

2 The Role of Women in Athletic Training: A Review of the Literature Acknowledgments Faculty Mentor - Jeffrey Kawaguchi, PT, Ph.D., ATC, This literature review is available in Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal: 13

3 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training Context: Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, we have seen an exponential growth of participation of females in sports at all levels. However, this growth has not been matched by a similar growth in all areas that support the endeavors of female athletes. One such area is athletic training, specifically in leadership positions. Background: The National Athletic Trainers Association was founded in For many years while the profession was expanding, males dominated both enrollments in the NATA and the clinical setting, but women have progressed into becoming almost an equally dominant gender in the profession of Athletic Training. Objective: The objective of this literature review will attempt to synthesize the current research literature in an attempt to understand the past, present, and future of women in the profession of Athletic Training. Format: Narrative review of the literature Conclusions: In spite of equal membership in numbers in the National Athletic Trainers Association, women are not equal to men in higher administrative positions and some male-dominated sports. Much of the credit for the continued growth of women in the athletic training profession goes to the female athletic trainers who have faced gender bias and discrimination and broken down many of the professional barriers. Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

4 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 Introduction Since the passage of Title IX in 1972, we have seen an exponential growth of participation of females in sports at all levels. According to a report by the NCAA (2012), the number of female athletes during was 64,390. By , the participation rate had increased to 195,657. However, this growth has not been matched by a similar growth in areas that support the endeavors of female athletes. One such area is athletic training, specifically in leadership positions. Today, much of the active population has a general knowledge of athletic training as a profession, but lack an understanding of the specifics. Athletic trainers, not to be confused with strength and conditioning coaches or personal trainers, are certified health-care professionals that are regulated by a standard of care for practice and standards for education certification. They research and practice in a variety of settings as governed by the National Athletic Trainers Association (nata.org). According to the NATA, athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities (nata.org). Athletic Trainers may be employed under various areas of sport and education, including professional sports, collegiate sports, high schools, clinics and hospitals, military bases, the Olympics, performing arts, and in occupational health settings (nata.org; Winterstein, 2009). The mission of the NATA is to enhance the quality of health care provided by certified athletic trainers and to advance the athletic training profession (nata.org). In order to become a Certified Athletic Trainer, education from a nationally accredited program is necessary and subsequent passing of the Board of Certification Exam. In the beginning years of athletic training, there were no females in the National Athletic Trainer s Association (nata.org). However, as years past, 2

5 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training women began to enter in the field and embarked on a journey that would lead to breaking down barriers of a male-dominated profession and organization. History The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) was founded in The first meeting took place in Kansas City, where about 200 athletic trainers gathered to discuss the future and definition of their profession (nata.org). From then on, the athletic training profession was governed by the NATA, which provided members with professional standards for research and practice. Headquarters for the NATA were originally located in Greenville, North Carolina, but were later moved to Dallas, Texas (nata.org). The country was then divided into regions for purposes of voting, holding conferences, and state meetings. During the first 16 years of its existence, there were no female members of the NATA. Finally, a woman named Dorothy Dot Cohen, a graduate student, became the first female member of the National Athletic Trainers Association in 1966 (Winterstein, 2009). In 1972 two events occurred that would begin to set the stage for women to become a part of the NATA and the Athletic Training profession. Title IX, or the Education Amendments of 1972 stated that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance (dol.gov). With this Amendment, women became more active members and had increased opportunities in high school and collegiate athletics. This would also open the door for female athletic trainers to provide competent care in injury prevention, acute management, and rehabilitation (Winterstein, 2009). As more women became competitive athletes, more women became interested in the career of athletic training. The second significant event that occurred in 1972 was that Sherry Bagagian became the first Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

6 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 woman to sit for the Board of Certification (NATA) examination (Winterstein, 2009). By 1974, there were 3,444 members of the NATA with only one or two female members (nata.org). At this time, far less than 1% of the association members were female. According to archive records found on the NATA website and as noted in a text by Winterstein (2009), not long after Bagagian sat for the Board of Certification (BOC) exam, Gail Weldon also joined the NATA and sat for the NATA examination test. She became an icon of women in the athletic training profession with a wide array of accomplishments. She was the first female athletic trainer hired by the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1976, the first female head athletic trainer for the 1979 Pan American Games, and the first female chief athletic trainer for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. She was also the director of athletic training and physical therapy for the 1984 Olympic Games, and was selected again by the Committee as the Medical Director for the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival. In 1980, Weldon left her position as the Head Women s Athletic Trainer at UCLA to become the founder and owner of Women s Training Room and Conditioning Center. Weldon was the first woman inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1995, four years after her death. Today, the NATA holds a Gail Weldon Award of Excellence, which recognizes one athletic trainer each year who displays a commitment to mentoring, professional development and life balancing for women athletic trainers or significant contributions to improve the health care of females provided by athletic trainers (nata.org). According to the NATA Hall of Fame website, Gail Weldon became known as one of the most influential pioneers in the athletic training profession, making advocacy and recognition her main goals. She also served as a role model for all women, paving the road for women to become active members of the NATA and hold a strong position in the profession. From this research, it is apparent that there were a few pivotal turning points in the history of women in Athletic Training following the years after Gail 4

7 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training Weldon s first U.S. Olympic Team medical staff selection in In 1984 Janice Daniels, District 8 Director, became the first woman elected to the NATA Board. Then in 1992 Eve Becker-Doyle was hired as the executive director of the NATA and was the first woman to hold the position. The Women in Athletic Training Task Force became recognized as an official NATA committee in 1996, following Gail Weldon s induction into the NATA Hall of Fame in 1995 (nata.org). The Women in Athletic Training Committee (WATC) voted and decided on various programs and money distribution regarding females in the profession, focusing on leadership, life balancing, mentoring, and women s health. Some of these projects have included the creation of the Gail Weldon Visionary Award, the Women Mentoring Program, and the Unstoppable Woman Project. As women became more and more involved in the profession, barriers that were once in existence were broken down. After the election of Gail Weldon in the NATA Hall of Fame in 1995, a small number of female members were admitted that had a great impact on the profession. Karen R. Toburen, inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1999, established the first athletic training curriculum in the state of Wisconsin. She served as the chair for the NATA Convention Committee and vice-chair of the Joint Review Committee for Athletic Training education (nata.org). According to NATA records and a text by Winterstein (2009), in 2000 Julie Max was elected as the first female president of the NATA. She became known for promoting the profession and for developing an athletic training education program at California State University Fullerton, which has received national acclaim. She was inducted into the NATA Hall of Fame in Perhaps one of the most inspiring moments regarding the role of females in athletic training occurred in the world of professional male sports. Beginning in May of 1997, Michelle Leget broke the gender barrier in the NBA by becoming the first assistant athletic trainer for the Houston Rockets. Janet Panek then became an assistant athletic trainer for the Washington Wizards (Mihoces, 2008). Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

8 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 In 2002, a woman named Ariko Iso was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, making her the first woman to be hired as a permanent full-time assistant athletic trainer in the National Football League (Mihoces, 2008). News articles and interviews were written about these three women, making them idols for other females interested in athletic training. Majorie J. Albohm is also recognized as a pivotal female figure in the profession of Athletic Training. She was one of the first women to be certified by the NATA along with Gail Weldon and Sherry Bagagian (nata.org). In addition, she was the first female athletic trainer at Indiana University and was also an original member of the NATA Foundation Board and Foundation President. In 2007, Albohm was elected to be the president of the NATA, the second woman to hold this position after Julie Max. She greatly helped increase job opportunities for athletic trainers in clinics and physician extender roles (nata.org). NATA By the Numbers Year-End membership statistics from the NATA website were examined to understand the changes in gender roles in the athletic training profession as given from the year 2000 through 2011(members.nata.org). However, it is important to note that membership in the NATA is not required to maintain certification, so there could be members of either gender that are not represented. In addition, there are gender numbers for all members of the NATA which may include students and non-certified members, and there are different gender numbers for certified members of the NATA only. Figure 1 displays all members of the NATA, whether certified or non-certified. As identified in Figure 1, the NATA has gone from having no female members from 1950 to 1966, to over half of all members being female in

9 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training Figure 1. All data retrieved from History has shown that women in the NATA have broken down barriers in order to become integral members of the athletic training profession. From the first female member Dorothy Dot Cohen, and many others like Gail Weldon, Julie Max, Ariko Iso, and Majorie Albohm, these females have proven that women hold a strong place in this health-care profession. Current Status of Women in Athletic Training As of January of 2012, women made up over 52% of the National Athletic Trainers Association (members.nata.org), and are now a part of the medical team on the sidelines for almost every sport, according to a NCAA News Archive (2006). Several factors have contributed to this influx of women into the profession, along with the pivotal female members of the NATA in history. According to an interview with Sue Stanly-Green, MS, ATC, LAT; the implementation of Title IX seems to explain the expansion of women in the field (NCAA, 2006). As women have become more involved and respected in sports, female athletic trainers are now able to combine their interest in athletics with a Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

10 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 profession in health care. Although certain areas of the profession are based around the quality of care and not by gender of the provider, there are still some areas of athletic training that remain gender biased. According to Mazerolle, Borland, and Burton (2012), female athletic trainers are still underrepresented at the collegiate level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA ( ) suggested that at the Division 1 level, only a quarter of the full-time staff Athletic Trainers (ATs) were female while merely 16.3% held the head athletic training position during the school year. This represents a meager 0.8% increase from the school year, when the NCAA first collected this sort of demographic information. According to Acosta and Carpenter ( ), Division III schools had the highest percentage of women as head athletic trainers at 36.8%. Furthermore, it should be noted that most frequently the head athletic training position is often the position that works with football, as football is the greatest money generator in collegiate sports. Money makes football high profile, and it is also considered to be one of the most intensive (Mazerolle et.al, 2012; O Connor et. al, 2010). One of the prime examples of a head female athletic trainer that also covers football is Ariko Iso, who transferred to Oregon State University, her alma mater, as the head AT after working for the Pittsburgh Steelers (Mihoces, 2008). Another area of athletic training that women have been underrepresented in is administrative positions in professional male sports. 61 female ATs have held positions in the world of female professional sports (O Connor et.al, 2010). As previously discussed, there were few female athletic trainers in professional male sports: Michelle Leget with the Houston Rockets, Janet Panek with the Washington Wizards, and Ariko Iso with the Pittsburgh Steelers respectively. However, all three of these were assistant positions. There were no female head athletic trainers in professional male sports until June of 2011(Dilbeck, 2011). Sue Falsone was hired as the head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers and changed that statistic. According to Dilbeck (2011), she is the first woman to 8

11 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training hold the head athletic training job in major professional male sports. Throughout the process she has overcome an obstacle as a health-care professional that many female athletic trainers have faced when applying for a position in professional male sports. Accepting this position meant overcoming resistance from many coaches, managers, and even players. Professional male sports are no longer a man s domain, and Falsone, along with the other female ATs in this field, have created a new frontier for women in the profession. Barriers for Female Athletic Trainers in Administrative Positions Even though women today have had a great impact in the field of Athletic Training, there are still some sports that are male-dominated regardless of Title IX. Some these sports include football, ice hockey, and rodeo. Female ATs may face different gender discrimination obstacles when applying for positions in athletic training that were previously or currently dominated by men. According to an article by Mazerolle, Borland, and Burton (2012), one of the main hurdles that many women face today is gender bias and discrimination. The research states that although Title IX allows for equal participation in collegiate athletics, legislation does not require equal work environments for male and female athletic trainers. According to the NCAA ( ), males dominated the positions of athletic directors at the NCAA Division 1 level (90% male), assistant athletic directors (70% male), and head AT positions (81.3% male). It is apparent that as males control leadership positions in collegiate sports this has set the stage for men to set the agenda regarding hiring and work policies (Mazerolle, et.al., 2012). Furthermore, it was stated in the NCAA article ( ) that at the Division 1 level in the NCAA, men coach men s and women s teams, and women do not coach men s teams such as baseball, men s basketball, football, men s gymnastics, men s ice hockey, men s lacrosse, men s rowing, men s volleyball, men s water polo, or wrestling. This has lead to female athletic Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

12 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 trainers generally reporting either respectful or antagonistic relationships with male coaches. When the relationships were harmonious, it was because the female athletic trainer felt the need to stand up for herself in order to be respected (Dr. RR Shingles, Personal Communication, February 7, 2013). Mazerolle et. al., (2012) also stated that gender discrimination was identified as a problem faced by young, female ATs, especially when working with a male sport coached by a male. Resistance to females in male locker rooms and the male athletes perceptions of female athletic trainers may also contribute to the underrepresentation of women in head athletic training positions. O Connor et. al.(2010) stated that males have claimed discomfort when female ATs were providing care for gender-specific injuries and general medical conditions, but found females to be more nurturing than male ATs and that the roles of female and football AT were perceived as incongruent by football players. The reasons stated for this were because of the stereotypical gender roles of women being supportive caring, and nurturing, which indicates incongruity between the roles of being female and being an AT (O Connor et. al., 2010). According to Drummond, Hostetter, Laguna, Gillentine, and Del Rossi, (2007) these ideas may be deeply culturally rooted. Another current obstacle that is often associated with females in athletic training is the balancing of many roles, which may include mother, caretaker, wife, and athletic trainer, which may lead to work-family conflicts, kinship responsibilities, and incongruent role perceptions (Nussbaum & Rogers, 1999; O Connor et. al., 2010). According to Nussbaum and Rogers (1999), 86.3% of certified female ATs experience greater conflict between professional and family responsibilities when compared to their male counterparts. Because of the unique responsibilities of athletic trainers, including long work hours, travel, and little time away from the athletic training room, females may often experience increased stress and difficulty when they have families of their own. From a study done in 1999, Division 1 female athletic trainers that were also mothers 10

13 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training worked 52 hours per week, while female athletic trainers without children worked an average of 62 hours a week (Nussbaum & Rogers, 1999). Due to the extensive work hours, women are more likely to remain in positions that allow them to assume all roles including mother, caretaker, spouse, and athletic trainer (Mazerolle et. al., 2010). Higher administrative positions in professional and collegiate sports do not give many women the slightly more flexible schedule and hours that are available in some other positions such as high schools or clinics (Mazerolle et. al., 2010). This may be another reason as to why women are underrepresented at the collegiate and professional levels in athletic training. The Future of Female Athletic Trainers Undoubtedly, the number of female athletic trainers will continue to grow as the profession of athletic training continues. As the data suggests, the number of female members in the National Athletic Trainers Association equals the number of male members. Although women are equal in numbers, they are not equal to men in higher administrative positions and some male-dominated sports. Currently, it is becoming more and more likely that women will hold more NCAA Division 1 head AT positions, professional male sport positions, and other maledominated sport positions such as Division 1 football, ice hockey, and rodeo. Because of female athletic trainers like Gail Weldon, Ariko Iso, Julie Max, and Susan Falsone, gender bias and discrimination barriers in athletic training have been broken down, and women are now aware that they are capable of being strong forces in the profession. Conclusion In spite of equal membership in numbers in the National Athletic Trainers Association, women are not equal to men in higher administrative positions and some male-dominated sports. Much of the credit for the continued growth of Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

14 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 women in the athletic training profession goes to the female athletic trainers who have faced gender bias and discrimination and broken down many of the professional barriers. The future holds promise for women in Athletic Training, who are asserting themselves into the profession as vital members of Athletic Training staffs around the country. 12

15 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training References Acosta RV, Carpenter LJ. Women in intercollegiate sport: a longitudinal, national study thirty one year update ( ). _file. Cheslock, J. (2007). Who s playing college sports: Trends in participation. Women s Sports Foundation Report. Dilbeck, S. (2011). Dodger s new athletic trainer sue falsone: I m really humbled. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from Drummond JL, Hostetter K, Laguna P, Gillentinte A, Del Rossi G. Self-reported comfort of collegiate athletes with injury and condition care by same-sex and opposite-sex athletic trainers. J Athl Train.2007;42(1): Mazerolle, S., Borland, J., & Burton, L. (2012). The professional socialization of collegiate female athletic trainers: navigating experiences of gender bias. J Athl Train. 2012; 47(6), Mazerolle SM, Bruening JE, Casa DJ. Work-family conflict, part I: antecedents of work-family conflict among Division I-A athletic trainers. J Athl Train. 2008;43(5): Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,

16 Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal, Vol. 1 [2013], Iss. 1, Art. 13 Mihoces, G. (2008). Training leads to big break. USA Today. Retrieved from National Athletic Trainers Association. Gail weldon award of excellence. Retrieved from nata.org/gail-weldon-award-excellence National Athletic Trainers Association. Membership statistics. Retrieved from National Athletic Trainers Association. NATA hall of fame. Retrieved from National Athletic Trainers Association. NATA history. Retrieved from: National Athletic Trainers Association. Women in athletic training committee. Retrieved from AthleticTrainingCommitee.pdf National Collegiate Athletic Assocation (2006). Athletic training as a career is no longer a man s domain. NCAA News Archive. Retrieved from National Collegiate Athletic Association. ( ) race and gender demographics of NCAA member institutions personnel report. Retrieved from NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report (October 2012) 14

17 Martin: Role of Women in Athletic Training Nussbaum, E., Rogers, Mary J. (1999). Athletic training and mothering at the division 1 level. College Athletic Trainers Society, Fall Retrieved from: O Connor, C., Grappendorf, H., Burton, L., Harmon, S., Henderson, A., & Peel, J. (2010). National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 football players perceptions of women in the athletic training room using a role congruity framework. J Ath Train, 45(4), Doi: / United States Department of Labor. Title IX, education amendments of Retrieved from: Winterstein, A.P. (2009). Athletic training student primer: A foundation for success. New Jersey, USA: Slack Incorporated. Published by Skyline - The Big Sky Undergraduate Journal,