Locker Room Culture: An Ethnographic Study on Relationships Built in Locker Room Environments

Abstract

The climate of today’s world has become increasingly critical, as many horrors from the past are being brought to light. While we are being able to punish many people who have committed atrocious acts, we are also shedding uncertainty on many groups of people. Whether it is the uncertainty of how many people in Hollywood act, or the idea that groups of men get together in ways that are toxically masculine, we are unconsciously shaming people who are connected to groups where there have been bad deeds. The purpose of this thesis is to have a first hand account of a men’s varsity locker room, and compare it to locker rooms of multiple sports and genders, in an effort to bring to light the power of a locker room environment upon the building of relationships. This study used ethnography, as well as surveys and interviews of those not included in the ethnography in order to provide a broad scope of what a locker room can provide to those who frequent them.