The role of masculinity in sports culture and the impact it has on athletes and society.
Gender Identity: Understanding the difference between gender and sex, and how masculinity is socially constructed and performed within sports contexts.
Hegemonic Masculinity: It is the most dominant form of masculinity that is reinforced and enforced within sports contexts. It involves traits such as being aggressive, dominant, competitive, and physically strong.
Intersectionality: Acknowledging the interconnectedness of race, class, and sexuality in shaping male identities in sports, and how it influences different experiences within the sports world.
Homophobia and Heteronormativity: The common assumption that all male athletes are heterosexuals and those who exhibit any form of femininity or homosexuality are marginalized, discriminated, or labelled.
Physicality and Body Image: The ways in which male athletes are expected to conform to a particular body type and investigate the pressures and expectations of athletes’ bodies.
Violence and Aggression: The link between masculine identities in sports and the normalization of violent behavior, and how it impacts personal growth on and off the field.
Patriarchy and Power Dynamics: The ways in which gender-based power relations and unequal gender distribution punctuate experiences in sports for male athletes.
Race and Masculinity: How the concept of race can shape the construction and performance of masculinity within sports culture.
Masculinity and Emotions: Male athletes are often taught to suppress emotions, leading to stereotypes and negative expectations of athletes who don’t conform to the emotionless sports stereotype.
Media Representations: Analyzing representations of masculinity in sports journalism, documentaries, and other types of sports media to understand the impact of media images on athletes and sports culture.