Motherhood journeys on and off the ice: a narrative analysis of digital media stories of professional hockey mothers

Abstract

Feminist scholars have problematized the media’s portrayal of elite athlete mothers for downplaying athletic accomplishments in favor of highlighting motherhood statuses. The focus of this thesis was how the intersectional identities of heterosexual and queer hockey playing athletes as women and mothers are constructed and circulated in sport media. A focused case study of high-profile North American ice hockey players (n=7) was used to examine the social constructions of their identities. 101 stories were gathered, with 32 images accompanying stories. Media stories were subjected to a thematic narrative analysis and theorized using relativist narrative inquiry. The key findings are three narrative themes: be outstanding, a new generation, and queer mothers: they’re just like us! Recommendations are made regarding re-framing stories that uphold patriarchal ideals of motherhood, creating policies in sport that support athlete mothers’ autonomy, and the continued research into athlete mother identity construction using an intersectional lens.