Rebel, Rebel! How Megan Rapinoe’s Celebrity Activism Forges New Paths for Athletes

This chapter examines the evolution of Megan Rapinoe as an influential celebrity activist, employing social media, mass media images, and sports journalism. Meanings both visually and textually are examined, identifying implications for women, women athletes, out athletes, the sports world, and society as a whole. Identification and discussion of power and hegemonic masculinity in sports are presented, as well as cultural studies and queer theories. In an intersectional, third-wave, feminist theory, and queer theory-based analysis, the authors argue that the global fame and popularity of Rapinoe are important not only as media phenomena, but in the very real impact athletes and their activism can and do have on culture and changes in gender roles, in normative behavior, and on the individuals who follow them.