ABSTRACT
The main focus of this chapter is to offer a history of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse cases at MSU and within USAG to give some background and context to the subsequent case study. This chapter also offers a brief overview of the case study design, qualitative content/theme analysis, and related areas of inquiry. The case study explores two primary research questions: (1) Are systems and rhetorics of silencing embedded in youth and intercollegiate athletics organizations, and, if so, what impact do they have on athletes? (2) How do the rhetoric and discursive practices of youth and college athletic programs impact athletes’ willingness to speak up about abuse?
