“I Didn't Come Here to Make Money”: Exploring Power 4 Athletes’ Perceptions of Exploitation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: While it is widely noted that athletes competing in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletics are exploited in a variety of ways, scholarly examinations of college athlete exploitation have rarely sought to engage athletes themselves. Accordingly, researchers conducted in-depth, detailed, semi-structured interviews with college athletes currently competing in Power 4 conferences to uncover their perceptions of exploitation based on their lived experiences. Ten athletes representing five distinct sports (baseball, football, gymnastics, softball, and track and field) competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, and Southeastern Conference agreed to participate in the study. Findings indicate the characteristics of participants’ experiences informed whether they felt exploited economically or by their coach(es), institution, conference, or the NCAA. Corresponding to the findings of this exploratory study, the researchers engage in a discussion regarding the viability of mobilizing athletes to collectively assemble and unionize if college athletes themselves remain oblivious to exploitative practices taking place within the system they live, work, and play.
Authors: Sarah Stokowski, Chris Corr, Kaleigh Smith, Elijah Toney, Emma Kate Bostick, Brooke Prince, Michael Godfrey
Institution: Clemson University
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Reduced inequalities
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4410766114