Publisher's Synopsis
A contemporary analysis of American women in soccer, this book reveals a contested terrain in which numbers of young athletes are growing rapidly. Female athletes and coaches are seen as positive cultural icons of gender progress with vast unlimited potential, yet little is known about their lived, everyday experiences in these often male-dominated soccer environments. Since the inception of Title IX, the number of girls in youth sport has grown tremendously. Yet, these middle and high school athletes are often viewed by youth soccer clubs as 'genderless athletes'. This book reveals the intimate, multilayered struggles and pressures faced by 56 middle and high school players, as well as the gender battles of 24 collegiate female players who often feel like invisible, second-class citizens on their campuses.
