Author: Shannon O’Toole
ISBN: 0803286252
Good morning Shannon and thank you for agreeing to participate in our interview.
Thanks for the invitation!
Standard:
Shannon, tell our readers a little about your personal and professional experience.
Shanon:
I received my master’s degree in sociology from Western Michigan University. My master’s thesis was entitled “Attitudes of professional footballers towards women and violence”. When I was 19 years old and playing softball at Western Michigan University, I met John Morton. For the past 14 years, John has been involved in professional soccer. He played for 5 years and is now a coach. (In February 2006, he signed a 2-year deal with the New Orleans Saints as their “Assistant Passing Game”). My academic background combined with my personal experience made me very interested in the subject of NFL Women.
Standard:
How did your MA in sociology help you in your research and writing your book?
Shanon:
It helped immensely. It is an excellent discipline for examining social issues and dynamics. In the book I delve into sexism and racism in the context of professional football. Sociology has opened my eyes to social inequalities and injustices and has shaped me into the woman I am today.
Standard:
What is the underlying message or theme of Wedded to the Game: The Real Lives of NFL Women?
Shanon:
The message is clear: These women are not your stereotypical, shallow, gold-digging Barbie dolls. They are sharp, strong-willed and stubborn. They are multi-tasking, talented women who take on and conquer the challenges that life throws at them in the NFL. In fact, they are tough, if not tougher than the men who play and train the game. The percentage of women who fit the negative stereotype is probably less than ten percent, and these types of women never last very long. Those who learn to cope with the immense hardships of the NFL become stubborn, resilient, and wise survivors.
Standard:
Do you think that the sample of interviews was sufficient to reach some of your conclusions?
Shanon:
I do, mainly because I was very careful to select women whose experiences ran the gamut of NFL life. While speaking with Jackie Rice, who is married to All-Everything Jerry Rice, I also interviewed the girlfriend of a rookie free agent who was simply hoping her girlfriend would be on the health insurance list at the time of her baby’s birth. baby. . I finally knew there was a proper sample when I started hearing the same answers to my many questions. We truly are a brotherhood with unique shared experiences in professional sports life.
Standard:
Why did you feel compelled to write this book?
Shanon:
To quote the preface:
When I started my research for this book, I had an ulterior motive. Although I’ve been in the NFL for twelve years and know all too well what life is like, I also sought advice and hard-won wisdom from women who had already found solutions to my many concerns. I still struggle with the life I chose, so I wanted to know: How are other women dealing with the NFL? How do they manage and survive? What are your experiences?
I knew these women did not fit the stereotype. He wanted other people to know too.
Standard:
Can you explain some of your research techniques and how you found sources for your book? I notice that there is an absence at the end of the book of a selected bibliography. Any reason for this omission?
Shanon:
To quote the preface:
I sent an anonymous survey to over 150 women and got an amazing 75 responses. Of those 75 responses, I think 30 women will be interviewed in depth. Its stores are the heart of this book. About half were willing to go on the record and have their names used, and about half wanted to remain anonymous. In the initial anonymous survey, I asked respondents to “strongly agree, slightly agree, slightly disagree, or strongly disagree” with a myriad of statements about life in the NFL. These answers form the basis for some of my general statements and conclusions about what life is like off the field for women. Then, in the course of my thirty personal interviews, I received full and detailed answers to these often difficult and complex questions.
Regarding the absence of bibliography, the current literature on professional athlete spouses is minimal. Most of the published works are salacious and racy novels that simply serve to perpetuate unfair stereotypes. My book is the only book on the market (that I know of) that is part insider and part sociological study.
Standard:
What obstacles did you have in writing and researching your book?
Shanon:
There were very few obstacles during the research process. I was surprised by the willingness and enthusiasm of the women willing to talk about their experiences. They wanted to talk, not just about the good times, but about some of their most terrifying and excruciating experiences. Women in the NFL are almost universally ignored by the public and the media, and what I’ve found is that they have things to say and want to be heard.
My difficulties arose during the writing process. Before starting this book, he was completely naive about the art of writing. I HAD NO IDEA how hard it is to write well. Writing well is a real skill and I didn’t have the necessary training. I lost count of the number of important revisions. But I did have a goal of seeing my name on the cover of a book, and I was totally and completely determined to reach that goal. (I also have a coach for a husband, and he knew all the right motivational buttons to push!) Like millions of other writers, my pitch was turned down time and time again before finally finding a home at the University of Nebraska Press. And even then, it needed the skill of a fantastic third-party development editor, Jeff Campbell in San Francisco. I will always be in his debt for the beautiful things he did with my manuscript.
It took me 5 years from the beginning of the research to the final product. That’s a lot of time. But the feeling of self-fulfilment I have right now makes every day of those 5 years worth it.
Standard:
How has the response been so far? What are your expectations for this book?
Shanon:
Both inside and outside of the football world, the favorable feedback has been tremendous. Andrew Yardley of the Washington Post called Wedded to the Game a “smart and thoughtful book”. NFL Women’s comments include lines like “great insight into what life is really like for us” and “invaluable information for new wives/girlfriends.” The central theme, according to a woman married to a gamer, “it was comforting to know that while the stories may vary, many of our experiences are the same.”
Even women who aren’t fans of the game can relate to many of the problems in the book, such as frequent relocations or dealing with a partner’s long hours, both of which are commonplace in today’s American work culture.
Currently, I’m talking to two TV producers who are interested in the NFL Wives thing. Please visit my website for updates on these projects.
Of course, I hope this book continues to grow in popularity and one day hit the bestseller list. . . with the help of Oprah. (smile)
Standard:
What’s next for Shannon O’Toole? Is there anything else you’d like to add that we haven’t covered?
Shanon:
My dream is to implement and facilitate a mentoring program for women in the NFL. The mission of this program is to decrease stress and uncertainty and thereby increase the life satisfaction of women new to the league by formally connecting them with experienced veteran wives/significants. In these relationships, women NFL veterans offer advice, answer questions, and guide their mentees in developing skills and methods to mimic the myriad unique circumstances of NFL life. I’m currently talking to the league office in conjunction with the NFLPA about offering this program league-wide.
For the foreseeable future, John and I look forward to helping the people and animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. “Recover, Rebuild, Reborn” and GO SAINTS!
*Note: Hurricane Katrina dogs and cats continue to need loving homes. Visit: http://www.petfinder.com to adopt one of these service animals.
