Masculinity In Sports

Many Americans watch sports for the fun of the game; it is a form of relaxation or excitement. Becoming an athlete is something many dream about and some strive for a portion of their lives trying to make it a reality. But is it just as attainable for women as it is men? Being able to make a career out of something a person enjoys is something many dream about. Women do not have the same advantages when it comes to being an athlete or upward mobility in employment. There has been some progress in the equality of men and women but not enough. Hegemonic masculinity still affects women’s chances at succeeding in employment and sports because of perceived gender roles, stereotyping, and discrimination.
Children learn the differences between men and women’s roles in society from a young age. It is not something that is biologically instilled; rather it is something it is taught by observing the roles each gender partakes in their respected fields. When it comes to employment, children distinguish jobs like nurses and teachers are usually for women and firefighters or presidents are for men (Jacobs 2008). This may because they see members in their family holding these positions or being taught in school that certain genders usually hold certain positions. The same is true for children and associating gender roles in sports. Men usually become basketball, football, or soccer players. Women are not the first gender children think about when it comes to being athletic in competitive sports. Boys start to understand what masculinity is because of participating in sports and do not want to be called “fag” or “sissy” (Douglas Hartman 2008). They may kick the ball around with a male family figure, like a father, who instructs and criticizes...

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...men are increasingly holding high-status positions, but follow a more family centered route. Women are not paid as much as men in sports nor in other jobs. Male employers look at women sexually and are less likely to hire women because of discriminatory practices. In order for an end to the discrimination against women, there has to be a cultural change and new policy has to be implemented (Bobbitt-Zeher 2011). More integration in male dominated fields is also necessary to relive the gender differences. Changing the aggressiveness or the masculinity-centered advertisement in sports may allow more women to participate. Something similar can be done for the workplace like, looking at women as workers and not sexual objects or inferior to men because of certain traits they possess. Women should not have to go through this kind of discrimination at this time and age.