Hegemonic Masculinity In Team Sports Essay

From a theoretical perspective this essay posits that a type of masculinity predominates team sports, most importantly the AFL. This masculinity is inconsistent with the idea of openly homosexual men. Given the complete absence of any openly homosexual men in the AFL it’s reasonable to assume that this identity does not conform to conventional ideals of masculinity in modern society. This ideal, what is known as hegemonic masculinity outlines what may or may not be viewed as a ‘manly’. Team sports create or at least encourage many of the defining characteristics of hegemonic masculinity. Its more overt traits include physical strength, endurance, competition, aggression as well as power and control over others. The development of formal sporting
This concept is useful to understand the exclusion, or at least invisibility of gay men in the AFL. Anderson argues that hegemonic masculinity inherently excludes non-heterosexual identities and woman because of its obsession with power and control. The exclusion of women relies on the outdated and sexist assumption that they are the ‘weaker’ sex. This extends to the exclusion of gay men given their same sex attraction and potential for effeminacy. For many in Australian society, players of the AFL represent an idolised version of masculinity, or manliness. The assumed link between masculinity and is likely what has deterred an openly gay male AFL player. Links between hegemonic masculinity and the absence of openly gay male AFL players posit something of importance, that sport does not exist within a social vacuum. Despite its (sometimes arguable) ability to transcend social barriers and display physicality for entertainment the AFL, like many other sporting institutions is subject to sociological