Culture

Fashioned Bodies in Roller Derby League Logos: An Intersectional Analysis of Race, Gender, Body Size, and Aesthetics

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Abstract

Roller derby began as a sport in the 1920s, fell out of popularity in the 1970s, and garnered interest again in the 2000s, with 1500 leagues worldwide today. In the United States today, the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) serves as governing body for 236 leagues, each with a unique logo that serves as a visual representation of the team. In this study, we critically analyzed roller derby logos for WFTDA-member leagues (N=296, 100%) across the United States over a period of three weeks in January 2019. WFTDA-member league logos represent mostly cisgender, youthful bodies that were both feminized and violent, with more than half of the logos white- and thin-appearing. Given the power of imagery, WFTDA and roller derby leagues should think through the messages they are sending and whether or not they reflect the women who play the sport and the inclusivity they are trying to create.

How to Cite:

Reddy Best, K. L., Doty, K. N. & Green, D. N., (2019) “Fashioned Bodies in Roller Derby League Logos: An Intersectional Analysis of Race, Gender, Body Size, and Aesthetics”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 76(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.8420