Most women's collegiate sports reflect an under representation of African American student-athletes. The purpose of the study was to examine how the socialization process influences African American women to participate in sports in general, and to participate in certain sports specifically. Many studies have examined women in sport or African Americans in sport, but few have focused on the intersection of race, gender, and sport. Previous qualitative research with African American female student-athletes at one NCAA Division I institution (Bruening, Armstrong, & Pastore, 2005) has indicated: (1) Family members and teachers/coaches are the most significant socialization influences on African American female athletes; (2) Power structures in sport and society impact the socialization process and African American females' part in their own socialization; (3) Racism in sport and in society affects both the exposure to stereotypes and the socialization of African American females. The current study replicated the previous study at a different NCAA Division I institution in an effort to further the inquiry into the sport experiences of these women.
Fourteen participants composed six focus groups and represented the sports of track and field (6), basketball (3), volleyball (3), swimming (1), and tennis (1). The focus groups were semi-structured and functioned as a means to gather data in an environment where the participants felt comfortable among their peers. Subsequent individual interviews were conducted with five of the participants (two in track and field, one in swimming, volleyball, and tennis) in order to delve deeper into the themes that arose in the focus groups and gain additonal individual perspective on the African American female student-athlete experience from those who participated. Socialization results were organized around the following themes: A.) exposure and access to sport based on geography; social class, race/ethnicity; role models (parents, friends, coaches/teachers); B.) importance of same sport, same gender, and/or same race/ethnicity in role models; D.) how socialization changes as one grows older. The findings of the study are potentially significant to educators, coaches, parents, and role models who have a role in encouraging African American women to speak up, to fight the stereotypes that limit them, and to take an active role in their socialization into and through sport.