Research suggests that female athletes may try to distance themselves for other female athletes who are unfeminine or who are lesbians by talking negatively about these women or emphasizing how they are different. What is this strategy called?

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Defensive othering is a strategy where individuals distance themselves from members of their own group who are stigmatized or negatively stereotyped, by emphasizing their differences from those members. In this context, female athletes may use defensive othering to distance themselves from unfeminine or lesbian athletes to avoid being subjected to the same stereotypes or stigma.

Research Suggests That Female Athletes May Try to Distance Themselves