The Experiences of Women Athletic Trainers Providing Medical Care to Male Sports Teams

An abstract of a study by Barrett et al exploring the experiences of women athletic trainers providing medical care to a male athletic team within the collegiate setting is presented. Analysis revealed 3 themes. Participants encountered mostly positive experiences with student- athletes and coaches, described being associated with role of "Team Mom", experienced discriminatory behavior, sexism and gender bias. Though their relationships with student- athletes and coaches were often harmonious, participants experienced sexism and discrimination throughout their careers. Participants struggled to receive comparable treatment to male athletic trainers and identified situations where a "double standard" exists