Abstract

Women in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) have come to the forefront of WWE programming form out of nowhere. This honors thesis sets out to show that this narrative is false and that the progression of women in the WWE began long before the company had its current name. This thesis uses the theory of the four waves of feminism to show the correlation of the evolution of women in society to the evolution of women in the WWE. In doing so, this project shows both the similarities and differences between the women in the WWE and women in the United States. Analysis of secondary sources that outline the history of the WWE and compiling of primary sources. It also relies on the analysis of photos of the wrestlers to compare them to the views of the era. Ultimately, this thesis concludes that women in the WWE mirror the progression of women’s place in society in the United States. It shows the correlation between the four waves of feminism and the different eras of women’s wrestling in the WWE. It shows the effects of storylines, character work, and attire and how it captures the attitudes and feelings of the era.

Semester/Year of Award

Fall 2024

Mentor

Dr. Joel Cormier

Mentor Department Affiliation

Exercise and Sport Science

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies

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