Homophobia in professional female sports uses the word lesbian, as a tool to scare the women that participate in them into maintaining what society believes is a good role model status for promising young athletes. Labeling a professional athlete as a lesbian is a sure way for society to look down upon them and discourage individuals from viewing them as a positive role model for young females due to the negative connotations that are involved with the word lesbian.
Professional female athletes are viewed as positive role models for women because they are empowering individuals who have worked hard and have succeeded in a competitive atmosphere. The young female athletes who view professional female athletes in their own sports as positive individuals use them as role models that they can imitate and aspire to be like. If a professional athlete is labeled a lesbian, a harmful individual by society's standards, than the athlete has the possibility of losing their status as role model for young women. Professional athletes who are indeed lesbians do not disclosing their sexual preferences for fear of losing their status as role model and becoming a person that society views as harmful to other individuals. Professional athletes who are not lesbians also have to work as hard as those who are lesbians in order to maintain an image that is viewed as feminine to keep society from incorrectly labeling them.
Endorsement deals for professional athletes can also be jeopardized if the athlete is labeled a lesbian. Companies who endorse athletes to help sell their products do not want to lose money by endorsing an athlete that has a negative reputation. Professional female athletes who gain money through endorsement deals with companies do not want to risk losing the income and publicity due to a lesbian label. The risk of losing high endorsement deals affects a professional female athletes desire to reveal themselves as lesbians.
The majority of professional female athletes feel that if a professional athlete were to disclose their sexual preferences it would have both financial and professional consequences. The result is that many women who are lesbians and are playing professional sports stay in the closet so that their careers are not harmed and they may continue to participate in the sports they love without the negative backlash of society.