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Essay / Hegemonic Masculinity in Sports Media - 1903
From the individual level to the national and global scale, certain tasks and activities legitimize gender and define the identities of men and women. Traditionally, the culturally specific behaviors of men constitute masculinity while those of women constitute femininity (Connell, Masculinities 68-69). In many cultures, masculinity and femininity exist in a hierarchy, with masculinity being superior to femininity. The terms can be even more stratified, as some forms of masculinity and femininity are preferable to others (Moss 2). Sociologists often view the most vaunted masculinity in a particular culture as hegemonic or dominant, and this image of masculinity becomes the ideal for men in that society (Moss 2). Although the concept of masculinity is constantly evolving, one activity often linked to the hegemonic form is the practice of sports (Brandt and Carsens 233). Like the evolution of masculinity, sporting events have changed considerably over the years. Originally, only men played sports, but today a diverse group of individuals can participate in a variety of sports, from grassroots to professional levels. However, despite women's increasing involvement in sport, sports media perpetuates hegemonic masculinity by selectively covering men's sports and emphasizing the bodily performance and sexuality of male athletes.II. Theory and ContextA functional definition of masculinity is crucial to understanding hegemonic masculinity in sport. Many people, especially those associated with science, view masculinity as simply the product of natural male behavior (Moss 3). They propose that masculinity and femininity arise from sexual differences. Thus, biology can explain behavior...... middle of paper...... is a muscular physique, closely related to one's physical abilities. To win sporting events, you have to have a body capable of doing it. The image of the ideal body often presented by the media is one of broad shoulders, a prominent chest and broad, defined arms. Moving from the chest to the waist, the body forms a “V” (Denham and Duke 111). These “images of masculine perfection are reinforced when male athletes use their bodies to punch, dunk, tackle, and run, receiving millions of dollars, media attention, and fan adoration for their efforts” (Denham and Duke 111 ). The images and body types depicted in the media then permeate society, creating a form of masculinity that stands out from others. The focus on and representation of athletes with a specific body type subordinates both men and women who do not possess that physique..