Book Chapters

I have written three book chapters, two of them investigating different aspects of race and political relations in professional wrestling. The research has been really fun–it’s an interesting aspect of social, cultural, and political history. I was also one of four authors from the first book to present at the Annual Meeting of the American Historical Association, which was an amazing experience. Following a Utopian Studies Society Europe conference, I was also invited to contribute to a collection of essays about utopian models and theories and the potential for creating a more ideal world.

Back of ring: The Iron Sheik, born in Iran but later billed as Colonel Mustafa from Iraq, and Nikolai Volkoff, born in the Ukraine but billed at times from Mongolia and the Soviet Union.

“Breaking All the Old Hierarchies: Sex and Gender in Marge Piercy’s Woman on the Edge of Time.” Utopian Possibilities: Models, Theories, Critiques. Universidade de Porto Press, 2023.

Since the novel’s publication in 1976, much progress has been made, but recent developments have led to an urgent need to defend and promote women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.

“From Chitlins to Championships: Limited Opportunities for African American Professional Wrestlers.” Sports in African American Life: Essays on History and Culture. McFarland, 2020.

African American wrestlers have faced threats, segregation, and discrimination. They have been forced to portray offensive stereotypes, and they are also rarely considered to hold major titles and be the public face of the promotion.

“Deepest, Darkest Africa(, Illinois): Cultural Appropriation in Professional Wrestling.” Identity in Professional Wrestling: Essays on Nationality, Race and Gender. McFarland, 2018.

Wrestlers’ identities are often based on their nationality, but the sport has a long tradition of people claiming a national or cultural identity other than their own.

Picture by Ethan, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic