Abstract
This research works to understand the origins and effects of Instagram users'hostile language choices within online hockey discourse. Findings of previous studies suggest the existence of distinct hostility towards female athletes within online sports discourse. Discourse which is disproportionately hostile towards female athletes may alienate women from participation in the sport and fan culture. This study is an exploration of hostile language choices and exclusionary narratives directed towards women's participation in the sport of hockey, in a Canadian context. Hockey Night in Canada is a renowned site of Canadian hockey discourse. For this reason, data collected from the Hockey Night in Canada Instagram page will be used to examine the differing language choices users make when describing female hockey teams and players comparatively to when describing male hockey teams and players. The findings of this data, paired with Turner's (1987) theory of self-categorization and Marx's (1844) theory of alienation, work to suggest potential causes and consequences of exclusionary digital discourse that may affect women's participation in hockey.
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