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  

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.

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).

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)

• 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).

• 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.”

• 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). 

(Mikkonen 1009) 

• Female athletes are seen just as inspirational mothers and not competitors 

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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).

• 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).