Strong Women, Deep Closets: Lesbians and Homophobia in Sport

by Pat Griffin

Former athlete and coach Pat Griffin makes a provocative and impassioned call for attention to a topic too long avoided by women's sports advocates. In Strong Women, Deep Closets , she provides a critical analysis of discrimination and prejudice against lesbians in sport. The book is the first to explore the lesbian sporting experience as well as examine homophobia and heterosexism in women's sport. The work is based on theoretical and historical foundations and is written in an academic yet engaging style. Griffin brings to light the experiences of lesbian coaches and athletes in their own words. Strong Women, Deep Closets concludes with Griffin's assessment of the current state of lesbians' rights in athletics, set against the overall social picture in the United States. The author lists obstacles lesbian athletes face in transforming sports and details numerous personal and political strategies for leveling the playing field.

Genres: Sports, LGBT, Nonfiction, Feminism, Lesbian, Sociology

264 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 1998

Reviews

[Molly Frattasio]

So interesting to see how lesbianism in sports has changed/remained the same since the 90s.

[abby]

fascinating to see what has / hasn't changed since this book was written in the late 90s. sport was where I realized and came to terms with my lesbianism and I know I'm not the only one. sending thanks to the ones who made that possible for me <3

[Megan Rossman]

It’s tough to read this and think about how many of these issues are still present. I found the sections with personal stories to be the more compelling parts of the book. There are many anonymous quotes that tell similar stories, which does show the breadth of the challenges faced.

[Maria]

Sad and amazing how much has stayed the same and how much has changed over 17 years since this book came out.