Women in Whitewater

Women in Whitewater is a four-part limited audio series exploring what it’s like to be a woman in the professional whitewater industry. This podcast is a result and a part of my Master's thesis in Experiential and Outdoor Education. Every episode is a blend of social theory and the stories of professional whitewater kayakers.All episodes launching in Summer 2022!

In this episode, I introduce my research, describe the methods that I used to gather data, and give an overview of the feminist poststructuralist research paradigm.

In this episode, I define and give examples of gender performativity in the context of whitewater kayaking. How does our appearance change the assumptions that others make about us, and how do those assumptions change the ways that we dress and act?

In this episode, I share true stories from professional women whitewater kayakers about the ways they dress, act, and are treated while on and around the river. This includes stories about the ways that our bodies are disciplined to behave “acceptably” by the standards of the kayaking community.Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and rape.

In this episode, I conclude this series by sharing stories of women in places where they feel empowered. What recommendations do they have for creating an equitable and inclusive whitewater community? This episode is a call and a challenge to the field; a way to center women’s voices around ways that people in the industry can do better.