Gendered Choices: Mascot Interactions in Minor League Baseball

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2012

Abstract

Most mascots are identified as male. Since the passage of Title IX, female athletes and some female mascots have entered sport. It is unclear what impact this addition of a mascot choice has had on children at sporting events. This exploratory study examined interactions between children of each gender and mascots of each gender at three minor league baseball games. Frequency of contacts from child to mascot and mascot to child were observed. Statistical analysis revealed significant gender differences in children contacting either the male or female mascot such that children were not approaching mascots in a manner similar to their gender counterpart. The mascots also demonstrated a gender bias in interactions in that there were significant differences in which gender they approached more frequently.

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