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The male gaze in media perpetuates objectification and sexism towards women (Jackson).

Achievements of successful female athletes, such as Serena Williams, often overshadowed by appearance, revealing a pervasive double standard (Schultz).

Western sports culture reinforces rigid gender norms, favoring muscular men and imposing unrealistic expectations on women (Couture, 2016).

Female athletes subjected to language diminishment, as reporters refer to them as "girls" rather than "women," highlighting cultural biases (Jackson, 2012).

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The male gaze heavily influences sports media, where men remain the primary focus across various platforms.

Women are often framed as objects for the male viewer's gaze in sports media (Brandt & Carstens).

Despite the increasing presence of female athletes, there remains a significant disparity in media coverage, often overshadowing their athletic achievements with emphasis on appearance (Brown).

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We will discuss the role of masculinity in sports

Specifically we will explore:

The ways in which hegemonic masculinity has shaped gender roles for men in sports and how that simultaneously affects women and alternative forms of masculinity

How hegemonic masculinity has affected transgender athletes in sports

The male gaze and its effects on women in and out of the realm of sports

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Positionality Statements

Emily D

I am a cisgendered woman from Canada, and I am from Latin ethnicity. Since sports is culturally significant in my life, it was important for me to inspect how hegemonic masculinity has affected the role of women and alternative forms of masculinities in the profession.

Taniya Z

I am woman from South Asian Sports are a reflection of cultural values and identities, including those related to gender. Exploring masculinity in sports gives me insights into how different cultures perceive and value masculine traits.

Sienna B

I am a women born in Canada with Jamaican and Grenadian heritage. I will be exploring media representation through a feminist lens, focusing on the male gaze. By understanding its impact, we uncover how women are portrayed in society, enabling us to challenge objectification, marginalization, and misrepresentation.

Abby P

I am a woman that was born and raised in Canada. Throughout my whole life, I have actively participated in sports. Consequently, my involvement in this creative project provided me with the opportunity to visually depict the concept of masculinity in sports and its direct impact on both myself and my female contemporaries.  I have ensured that this visual presentation is accessible and useful to a wide range of individuals, making it inclusive.

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Toxic Masculinity

The underlying sports system consists of practices that support toxic masculinity (Breger et al. 276).

Toxic masculinity plays into hegemonic masculinity by encouraging the marginalization of attributes seen as culturally female or feminine. This in turn solidifies men’s dominance over women and encourages homophobia by creating an idea of masculinity that is above all other expression (Breger et al. 277).

Hegemonic masculinity also encourages harassment and sexual abuse against women through the facilitation of locker room talk (Breger et al. 277-279).

Locker Room Talk

A study looked at the connections among adherence to masculine norms, locker room talk, and support for sexual harassment and rape misconceptions among American men

They found a correlation between misogynist attitudes led to  acceptance of rape myths and sexual harsaament. Additionally, these men then felt pressure to participate in locker room talk (Cole et al. 515).

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According to Mimi Schippers, hegemonic masculinities are characteristics defined as masculine (Schippers 94).

Characteristics of hegemonic masculinity include physical strength, the use of violence during conflict, and authority (Schippers 91).

When related to femininity, these characteristics impose an ordered and complementary association between the two (masculinity and femininity)

This works to place men in a dominant position over women (Schippers 94).

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To explain Hegemonic Masculinity we will begin with two definitions:

1. Toxic masculinity: portrayals of extreme masculinity in which practices are violent, devoid of emotion, and sexually aggressive; some behaviors include “misogyny, homophobia, and aggressive dominance” (Breger et al. 276).

2. Locker room talk: conversations which include or revolve around misogynistic jokes or other demeaning comments about women (Breger et al. 279)

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What Can Studies Show Us?

Another study done across various tribal societies revealed that communities with more rape cases tended to have increased levels of violence among individuals and male domination over women. Conversely, societies with fewer reported cases of rape exhibited greater respect for women, lower levels of violence, and a sense of equality between the sexes (Simeone and Jeglic, 1588).

These studies illustrate how sexual assault against women is influenced by behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that perpetuate gender based power imbalances in daily interactions such as toxic masculinity and “locker room talk.”

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Shaped an environment in which women are scarcely in leadership positions as is exemplified in the numbers for Canadian National or post-secondary teams (Breger et al. 275).

Similarly, males make up a bigger percentage of athletes compared to women in American universities (Breger et al. 275).

For example, womens football became part of the Football Association of Finland (FAF) in 1971. Since then, the team have outperformed their male counterparts which boasted their ranking in the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) over the years (Mikkonen 1007).

Despite this, the involvement of girls and women in the sport and the representation of women in leadership roles within the national governing bodies such as the FAF have been insufficient (Mikkonen 1007).

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Hegemonic masculinity in sports has formed the foundation of a space where men continue to be dominant through the partaking of dangerous behaviors such as toxic masculinity and “locker room talk” which ease aggression against women, the exclusion of women from leadership positions, and gives reason for the smaller percentage of female athletes.

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FAF comprises nearly 1000 member clubs and over 140,000 registered players.

As of December 2018, 32,500 (23%) are girls and women.

Within the FAF, there are 81 employees, of which 22 (27%) are women.

Of the top five leadership positions none are held by women and only two out of seven middle-management positions are occupied by women as per 2019.

As of April 15, 2021, the FAF board consists of eight members, including two women.

The chairperson is a man, while the first vice-chairperson is a woman.

(Mikkonen 1009)

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Professional Female Soccer Player Haley Rosen Speaks on Women’s Sports and What is Needed Today? 

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Professional Female Soccer Player Haley Rosen Speaks on Women’s Sports and What is Needed Today? 

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Women's sports should not be treated as a charity

Female athletes are seen just as inspirational mothers and not competitors

Future of women's sports needs investment, media coverage, and change in market

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The problem with women's sports | Haley Rosen | TEDxBoston

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TRANSGENDER AND QUEER GROUP

The transgender and queer communities defy traditional gender norms, challenging the conventional binary perspectives on gender that have historically dominated societal and cultural expectations.

MASCULINITY IN SPORTS

Sports culture prioritizes traditional masculinity, emphasizing dominance, control, and adherence to traditional gender norms, marginalizing those who deviate.

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CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY MINORITIES IN SPORT

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CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED BY MINORITIES IN SPORT

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Toxic Masculinity Features: The presence of violence, indifference, sexual aggression, and enforcing strict gender norms contribute to a hostile environment for transgender and queer athletes.

Harassment and Violence: Transgender and queer individuals may face harassment and violence due to policies on their eligibility to compete, as well as being targets of public debates over their integrity and rights.

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CAUSES OF TOXIC MASCULINITY & LGBTQ+ DISCRIMINATION 

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CAUSES OF TOXIC MASCULINITY & LGBTQ+ DISCRIMINATION 

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Transgender and queer communities challenge traditional gender norms, leading to their exclusion from sports due to the perception of sports as a "masculine domain."

When women display physicality in sports, it is often viewed as an encroachment into men's space, whereas for men, it's an expression of masculinity, disadvantaging transgender athletes and scrutinizing women's femininity in sports.

Reinforcing the notion that only traditionally masculine men are suited for sports.

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Dancers on the future of masculinity in movement

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Challenges Encountered By Minorities In Sport  (Cont.)

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Challenges Encountered By Minorities In Sport  (Cont.)

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Fear and Exclusion: The strict enforcement of gender norms fosters a culture of fear and exclusion, discouraging participation from transgender and queer communities, and negatively impacting their mental health.

Intersectionality Challenges: The existence of intersectional identities, such as race and ethnicity, can further complicate the inclusion and acceptance of transgender athletes in sports.

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The Pervasive Power of Gender Norms in Media

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The Pervasive Power of Gender Norms in Media

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"Gender and sexuality are informed by our everyday institutions (e.g., the family, education, the media), and naturalize male domination. This pervasive power not only affects women, it also paints all men into a tight corner. Men are, for Bourdieu, 'dominated by their own dominance' (p. 174)."

This quote highlights how cultural institutions, especially the media, aid in reinforcing traditional gender roles and expectations, which limit both men and women to narrow stereotypes and behaviors.

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Men remain dominant in the sports industry despite progress.

Urgent call for women to challenge entrenched gender norms, especially in fields like sports journalism.

Importance of identifying sources of influence and educating women about the harmful effects of sexualization.

Collective action needed to address gender disparities and empower women in sports (Wright).

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This poem addresses the inequality in attention and money earned by male and female players in sports. It starts with a personal voyage of self-discovery, emphasizing the significance of determining one's purpose. Then it shifts to a criticism of the lack of support and fair compensation for women in athletics, stressing their devotion and hard work despite institutional impediments. The poem fiercely pleads for change, appealing for equal pay and respect for female athletes, emphasizing the existing injustice and expressing optimism for a future in which gender equality in sports is attained.

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Equality Poem | Nathalie Stapley | Women’s Hockey Life

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What do i stand for? All of us always asked I didn’t know it before I searched for the door I didn’t have And later the key walked to me Sports are a w…

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Feminist perspective reveals the harm caused by the male gaze, restricting and demeaning women (Vanbuskirk).

Analysis of sports media uncovers entrenched power dynamics perpetuating gender inequalities despite female participation progress (Jackson).

Gender and race heavily influence power relations in sports media, with men predominantly represented.

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Feminist perspective reveals the harm caused by the male gaze, restricting and demeaning women (Vanbuskirk).

Analysis of sports media uncovers entrenched power dynamics perpetuating gender inequalities despite female participation progress (Jackson).

Gender and race heavily influence power relations in sports media, with men predominantly represented.