Battling History: A Discussion of How Controlling Images and the Matrix of Domination Causes Recreations of Oppression Affecting Black Female Athletes in Gymnastics Today

Authors

Nicole T. Cesanek, Gettysburg CollegeFollow

Class Year

2023

Document Type

Student Research Paper

Date of Creation

Spring 2023

Department 1

Africana Studies

Abstract

The history of the slave era led to the creation of several different tropes of African American women used throughout history including the jezebel and the strong Black woman. Coupled with the matrix of domination, researchers are able to understand how this history has led to recreations of oppression among Black female athletes. This has been particularly evident among the sport of gymnastics in which several athletes have experienced severe oppression, which in many cases, has prevented them from speaking up about other serious concerns within their sport such as sexual assault and mental health. The creation of tropes for Black females, coupled with the matrix of domination, have contributed to the reproduction of oppression among Black female gymnasts.

Comments

Written for AFS 250B: Black Bodies in American Sport

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Cesanek, Nicole T., "Battling History: A Discussion of How Controlling Images and the Matrix of Domination Causes Recreations of Oppression Affecting Black Female Athletes in Gymnastics Today" (2023). Student Publications. 1085.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/1085