Scheduled for The Consortium of Research in HPERD and Social, Wednesday, April 10, 2002, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM, San Diego Convention Center: Exhibit Hall


Observations in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Gender Dynamics in the Cooperstown Experience

Elaine M. Blinde, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL and Sarah G. McCallister, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

As a popular cultural practice, baseball historically has been more central in the life script of men than women. However, women’s relationship to this institution may have changed as women’s roles have shifted and women’s involvement in sport has increased. Therefore, this study explored the extent to which baseball has become part of the life experience of women and the degree to which gender differences exist in how men and women connect to baseball today. Observational analysis was selected for the methodology. No observational context was deemed more capable of revealing an individual’s connection and relationship to baseball than that of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Unobtrusive observations of the behaviors and comments of visitors to the Hall of Fame were undertaken by the two researchers to explore how men and women experienced this baseball landmark. Field notes were recorded during a seven-day period (60 hours of observation) and the content of these notes later transcribed and content analyzed. Several themes emerged reflecting gender differences: (a) historical and personal connection to baseball, (b) ability to experience a bond with others through baseball, and (c) approach to experiencing the Hall of Fame and Museum. For example, it was evident that men possessed a greater understanding and appreciation for baseball both in its historical and contemporary forms (e.g., personal recollections, childhood stories), men were more likely to feel a bond with others through the context of baseball (e.g., adult men with each other, male adult to male child), and men experienced the Hall of Fame in a manner different from women (e.g., greater amount of time spent on exhibits, more emotion, more reverence, greater excitement). Moreover, a fourth theme reflected in the observations was the existence of gendered perceptions related to baseball. These perceptions were most noted around a Women and Baseball display. Based on the responses observed, women were often seen as outsiders and peripheral to baseball and an exhibit focusing on women was viewed as an oddity. Although baseball is recognized as an integral part of American culture, women’s lived experiences are less connected to this institution. The eclipsing of women from this socially valued institution, as true of other socially valued institutions, represents yet another case of cultural exclusion of women. Efforts to expose girls and women to such culturally valued contexts could certainly be a goal of physical educators.
Keyword(s): athletics/sports, gender issues

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