Term of Award
Winter 2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading
Committee Chair
Sabrina Ross
Committee Member 1
Scott Beck
Committee Member 2
Michelle Reidel
Committee Member 3
John Weaver
Abstract
Professional Wrestling has long perpetuated stereotypical representations of race and gender through its performers and the storylines in which they participate. While the popularity of professional wrestling has varied over the years, its impact on popular culture has persisted for decades. This study focuses on the race and gender representations present in storylines and texts in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Through critical multicultural analysis, a conceptual framework built upon curriculum studies and critical media literacy, this study explored the dominant social structures in professional wrestling. Findings were that women are often relegated to secondary roles and Black males are regularly dominated by White males in professional wrestling storylines. There is a need to confront the normative biases that privilege White male professional wrestlers and disenfranchise female and Black professional wrestlers. For curriculum scholars, these findings point to the importance of integrating informal curricular processes, such as media portrayals, into discussions of formal educational content.
Recommended Citation
Lucas, L. (2024). An exploration of the race and gender representations in professional wrestling in the United States: A qualitative case study (Doctoral dissertation, Georgia Southern University).
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
