Girls in Contact Sports (9/24/09 class)

The controversial issue of girls participating in contact sports has existed before the legislation of Title IX. The video shown in class regarding Holly Mangold's position on a men's high school football team has undoubtedly raised a few eyebrows. Being a female, I think females should be given the opportunity to participate in a male contact sport if there is not a female team for that sport (i.e. football, hockey). However, I doubt I would take advantage of Title IX's regulation because I would not want the negative attention that results from these behaviors. Throughout high school, I was the football teams stat and water girl. I loved being on the sideline and I still consider myself to be "one of the guys." Although I feel like I fit in amazingly with my male friends, I would never want to be on the same team as them. Personally, it isn't worth the public ridicule. For determined athletes like Holly Mangold, the desire to play football made her decision to play on a the men's team a necessary one. I do not share the same desires as her so I will gladly stick to the sports I know how to play best.

The bystanders between males and females is very disappointing. In 2009, we still do not live in an equalized society. I am offended by the notion that girls cannot "handle" a contact sport meant for males. We (females) are counted out before we even get a chance to participate! What does that do to our self esteem and confidence? Nothing. It actually cripples us as human beings because those stereotypes go beyond the athletic field and into our daily lives both professionally and personally. Males are very dominate and athletic. In many cases, they can do more physically than a female can. Is this a result of being socialized since birth? It's quite possible. Once we have the idea in our heads that males and females are very different people, that perception stays with us throughout our childhood and into our adulthood.

The YouTube video of Holly Mangold was refreshing because the typical stereotypes did not seem to affect her. She is a strong young woman that takes alot of slack from the general public. Because of that, I have a great deal of respect for her. The perception that money is the root of the problem regarding males/females in athletics is a reasonable argument. After all, many issues are a result of money. Because the NCAA is emphasized on a more competitive model (males), the governing bodies tend to lean in their favor. I am not a feminist. I am a fan of more male sports teams than female sports teams. I want to work for the NFL after graduation. However, I believe in equality for EVERYONE...not just the female race. I hope that Title IX can change and focus more on equal opportunities for both males and females because when I am a mother, I want my children to be given equal rights because it's the right thing to do, not because it's what the law states.

Masculinism and the Men's Movement (9/22/09)

Tuesday's class discussion revolved around an article by Clatterbaugh (1997) titled "Introduction to the Men's Movement." This article focused on 8 different perspectives of the men's movement and what it means to be masculine in each of the eight ways. I'd like to further discuss the role of masculinity and review some of the main points in the article. Clatterbaugh defines the masculine gender role as "a set of behaviors, attitudes and conditions that are generally found in men of an identifiable group" (p.3).

Growing up, I rated a males masculinity based on his athletic ability and hobbies. To me, sports like football, baseball and hockey were manly in high school and playing guitar, PlayStation 2 and poker were acceptable activities. As I matured, I realized that masculinity lies in the eye of the beholder. Being a college senior, I view masculinity as being able to hold a job and hold your own during a fist fight. It's funny how perceptions change as a person gets older and learns what life is really about.

"Introduction to the Men's Movement" was an enlightening read because of Clatterbaugh's views on masculinity. Some of the 8 perceptions still seem over my head, but I am able to grasp the majority of the concepts. The article relates aggression to masculinism and states that men who are aggressive may value different kinds of work in their professional lives. A man's personal belief of his "gender role" can define his behaviors, clothing styles, habits and living style. For example, a simple walk through a dorm hall on campus (MacDonald Hall) will prove the point Clatterbaugh and I are trying to defend. One might discover posters of half-naked females, empty beer cans, over flowing trash cans, unmade beds, Nintendo systems, athletic equipment and dirty laundry. These "masculine" objects are socially acceptable and honestly, quite expected at the college age. Students might be surprised to see anything but the above list of items in a boy's dorm room.

Despite our personal beliefs, masculinism exists and is portrayed in everyday life. If a man is seen in a shirt and tie with a suit, he resembles a masculine male and demands respect without knowing anything about his past, present or future. Men want to be respected and will use their outer appearance to do so. Masculinism is a huge part of everyday society and since the birth of humankind, men have displayed masculine roles.

What Happened to Civility in Sport? (Thurs. 9/17/09)

We have all heard about the incidents. During the U.S. Open, Serena lost a match due to penalty points and Roger Federer was criticized after he had an altercation with an official. The same week, Michael Jordan was inducted into the Hall of Fame and gave, what some consider, to be to a rather conceded acceptance speech. Everyone has a different opinion of how athletes (male or female) should act during certain situations. When the game or match is one the line, who's to say how they themselves would react to an unfortunate line call? When did aggression and passion become a negative quality in professional athletics? Dictionary.com defines civility as "courtesy, politeness." Competitive activity can get quite intense and being polite is often not the first instinct athletes possess in the heat of the moment.

The Serena Williams play call has been disputed for several days. I believe much of the criticism is because of her gender. After all, she is a female and she wears dresses during tournament play and has shown (somewhat) her softer, feminine side. However, her behavior was very aggressive and threatening. I think the way she acted on her emotions could have been handled differently. As a professional, Serena should know better and remind herself of the millions of viewers that were watching her every move. However, I disagree with those that want her suspended. I think the remarks and criticism that came after her behavior was punishment enough. I doubt that we will see that side of Serena on the court again. Also, I doubt that line judge will appear in another tournament while Serena Williams is competing.

Roger Federer displayed his emotions in a much calmer manner. Although we could hear the conversation he had with the official, Roger remained seated, facing a different direction and was non-threatening. Sometimes people forget that athletes are real people like everyone else. Just because they have celebrity status does not mean they are inhumane and can act perfectly in the lime light. These tennis examples are perfect real-world situations where athletes should be taken off of their pedal stools and treated as regular people. Civility does remain in sports but the general public needs to be more understanding.

To me, Michael Jordan can do no wrong. Yes, he might be somewhat arrogant at times-but he is the most talented player to ever step on the court! Let him have his shining moments until someone else takes his place. Although he may have lacked some sense of civility in his speech, we got to see a personal side of Michael that was not representing the brand name. He was given his 15 minutes of fame and he chose to read a speech he felt was worthy of his induction. He is a grown man and who are we to tell him what is good and what sounds bad? He put in the blood, sweat and tears in order to be successful. We (the critics) did not and what makes our opinion worthy of going against his? The general public, sports writers, bloggers and many other critics need to look at their own civility before coming down on infamous professional athletes for playing the game they love so much.

Civility does exsist in sports. We may have to look harder to find it in people, but athletes continue to display positive messages and healthy competition. Until we walk a mile in their shoes, we cannot judge their actions through a television screen.

Wrestling with Masculinity

I have seen an entirely different side of the WWE after reading this article. Clearly, I have been socialized because the issue of "manhood" never occurred to me after years of being susceptible to this form of entertaining behavior. This study highlights particular moments in wrestling that proved Soulliere's position throughout "Wrestling with Masculinity: Messages about Manhood in the WWE." I never watched wrestling as I was growing up because as a female (another gender stereotype) I did not have an interest in such a violent all male "sport." I enjoy the way Soulliere separated her article into messages of manhood. Reflecting to my youth, I realize now that these messages have been clear all along. I never considered them to be incorrect or unreasonable.

Since college, I have been a huge fan of Hulk Hogan. However, I do not like him because of his infamous wrestling career in the WWE. His reality show, "Hogan Knows Best" on VH1 was an overnight success. Gradually, I watched the real Hulk (Terry Bollea) unfold before my eyes. He is very much a family man and overprotective father. He lectures his children about finances and dating while arguing with his ex-wife Linda about money. I never see him as the wrestler. He seems manly to me, but in a much different way that does not revolve around violence or winning and losing. I'm sharing this information because Hulk Hogan is a prime example of the issues Soulliere discusses. However, wrestling was just a job for him and he was putting on a show that was expected from the fans. Do wrestlers buy into the things they say and do? Do they practice what they preach? Based on his reality show, Terry Bollea does not practice the morals or believe in the actions he performed fight after fight as a WWE wrestler.

I am disturbed by most of the messages Soulliere found after studying over 100 WWE fights. Although some are universal (i.e. men take responsibility for their actions), most of them would not make a man successful in the real world. These messages would only gain them more enemies. The WWE portrays men as being incredibly muscular, mean-spirited, out for revenge, evil, violent, foul-mouthed and bloody. In today's society, many boys and men still resort to violence to prove their manhood and take to weights in order to physically and silently represent their manhood. Soulliere makes a point about men proving manhood by writing "Finally, it is certainly clear that men are expected to settle things physically when Commissioner William Regal tells Booker T and Rov Van Dam: "If you want to settle your differences, settle them like sportsmen in the ring tonight" (Soulliere, 2006, p.5). This mentality makes society think that being violent and aggressive is socially acceptable.

In closing, this article is a perfect example of what is wrong with stereotypes and celebrity. These men and women influence so many youth on a drastic level. In relation to our class discussion, I do not disagree that Serena Williams was too aggressive when threatening the line judge. However, because she is famous and because society is socialized into thinking these actions are normal, people overlook such profane actions. Because of shows like the WWE, athletes can get away with verbal and physical abuse with a simple smack on the hand. What happened to the Golden Rule and manners? Entertainment has changed the way children, teens and adults face the world. If the WWE is any indication of how men will display their emotions, I'll choose my friends much more wisely than I did before.

Barbie vs. Society (Sept. 8th Class)

Today's class discussion took me back to my childhood and made me reflect on some issues regarding gender that I otherwise may never have considered as stereotyping or "differencing." There is a universal difference between males and females. However, the difference is perceived so many different ways it is nearly impossible to have a conversation or debate on an even playing field. Being a female, the "Barbie" socialization is most intriguing to me because I grew up playing with Barbies. As I continue to develop into a woman, my perceptions of the "socially accepted" female body has changed. I will continue to discuss this topic after voicing what I learned from the assigned readings.

Females are often referred to as the "weaker sex." Barbara Ehrenreich faces this topic head on in her Time Magazine article "Making Sense of la Difference." Ehrenreich discusses the various historic beliefs and what tests have been done to try to make or break the theories that exist. Ehrenreich writes "In the 19th century, biologists held that a woman's brain was too small for intellect but large enough for household chores." It is unfortunate to read such a degrading statement knowing that females have overcome adversity in the past century. Women now hold upper management positions and are competitive with males in many different jobs. Although this course is not strictly based on female stereotypes there are many popular assumptions that still cause a stir. Another stereotype that exists today involves females being worse at math than males. The article states that a females academic development declines after puberty. I believe that each person is different and that although many of the assumptions may prove true to some, it depends on the way a person is taught and raised.

Our class discussion relates to this topic because gender differences occur in all aspects of life. I was surprised to hear that Barbie dolls come second to make-up kits as popular toys for female youths. The fiction of gender exists socially, culturally and structurally. The broad topic of gender stereotypes can go in a million different directions. In the sports world, a lot of the issues deal with our childhood experiences that have shaped the way we label athletes and sport. As an elementary student, I participated in volleyball, basketball and track. Our basketball was always smaller than the boys' basketballs and our hoops were often lower. Also, the final scores of boys games were usually double if not triple ours (females). When asked what would change if the social gender stereotypes did not exist, I can confidently say that I would have played football. Football is my favorite sport but I have always known it to be a male dominated activity. Looking back, I am glad that I did not participate in football because of how I might have been perceived in public. It is a shame that a child or young adult can be portrayed as unfeminine or emasculated just because he or she goes against the social norm. Unfortunately, this is the society we live in and stereotypes take years to diminish.

What's In a Name? (A Reflection of Week 2 Discussions)

Michael Jordan is one of the most recognizable names and faces throughout the history of all professional athletics. Many consider him the greatest player to ever step on a basketball court. Rightfully so, he has five championship rings, five MVP trophies and a record ten scoring titles (Johnson, 1998). The CNNMoney.com article written for Fortune Magazine "The Jordan Effect: The world's greatest basketball player is also one of its greatest brands. What is his impact on the economy?" written by Roy S. Johnson is a detailed portrayal of the effect Michael Jordan (MJ) has had on the entire world.

This article has created several class discussions regarding Jordan's role in society, his career and his ability to win the hearts of millions. Driven by pure talent, Michael Jordan has become a legacy in his own right. Written in 1998, this article is far from outdated. The "Jordan Effect" has increased profoundly since the new millennium. The Michael Jordan "brand" including Hanes, sports videos (Space Jam), books and cologne have collectively generated over $701 million in revenues without the addition of shoes and clothing (Johnson, 1998 p.2).

Michael Jordan has indirectly helped numerous other aspects including the NBA's attendance records, the city of Chicago's economy and the profitability of Nike. In 1998, the overall impact of the "Jordan Effect" was estimated at $10 billion. 11 years later, we are still witnessing Jordan's success and remain loyal to him, his brands and those he has contracts with. This leads nicely to the photograph we were shown in class. When asked to list the social and economic dimensions of the dunking picture, my mind and hand could not work fast enough.

I was never given the opportunity to watch Michael Jordan play in person. I was too young to understand who he was and why he was so good at basketball. However, after years of being consumed with Michael Jordan advertisements and brand items, several ideas came to mind when it was time to write our perceptions of the picture. Socially, I see a leader. I see a man who has joined a nation and created believers. I see passion and pain. Years of hard work and dedication placed into a single moment. Economically, I see a revolutionist. Michael Jordan was the first professional athlete to use his name in such a massive way while making a substantial profit. The world knew who he was and would have copied anything he was doing to "be like Mike."

The impact Michael Jordan has on the world (particularly the United States) is hard to justify in short terms. He is unlike any other athlete playing the game today. His legacy will continue for centuries and his economical influence will be studied in the classroom for years to come. "The Jordan Effect" has changed the face of professional sports and his recognizable fame has yet to show any slope in popularity. Kobe Bryant and/or LeBron James are sometimes referred to as the modern day Michael Jordan's. As masters in their art, both LeBron and Kobe have shown significant impacts on the NBA, the economy and the worldwide popularity of the sport of basketball.

This Friday, September 11, Jordan will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame by presenter David Thompson.

The Gender Trap

Tuesday's discussion regarding the differences between gender, sex and sexuality was very educational. Emini Saner's article "The Gender Trap" is a painfully honest portrayal of the real world and how sports can influence an athlete in their prime and throughout their lives. Although many of us may perceive these terms to mean different things, each situation is different. Life is very complex and many people get caught up in the specifics rather than being openly optimistic. Our conversation this week definately prooved how far society has come. In the past, the topics of transgender, intersex, homosexuality would not be traditional classroom material. It is refreshing to know that Dr. Spencer and the faculty at BGSU can treat us as equals and/or adults and trust that certain topics can be discussed in a mature manner.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is no doubt responsible for numerous rules and regulations regarding gender. Afterall, the IOC introduced sex testing in 1968 at the Olymypic games in Mexico City (Saner, 2008). Technology has made it possible for men and women to physically change their sex. Also, certain drugs have the capability of transforming the human body like never before. For these reasons, people are able to do as they please with their bodies and become the person they have always wanted to be. Individuals have the option to go through procedures (among other things) to be happy and content with their sexuality.

Changing one's gender/sexuality can create some detrimental issues that can be life altering. Emotionally, such a physical change can destroy one's reputation, personal life, professional life, capabilities, etc. "The Gender Trap" discusses some of these issues and faces them head on. For example, Santhi Soundarjan, a 27-year old Indian athlete failed a drug test during the 2006 Asian games. She was striped from her silver medal in the 800m and because she had the genetic make-up of a male chromosome but was born with female characteristics (Saner, 2008). Many athletes have medical conditions that interfere with the rules and regulations of the IOC. During the Atlanta games in 1996, "eight female athletes failed sex tests but were all cleared on appeal; seven were found to have an "intersex" condition (...) also known as chromosomal abnormalities" (Saner, 2008 p.2).

There are thousands of cases like those at the Atlanta games and Soundarjan's. When situations like these go public, the results can be humiliating. Unfortunately, suicide attempts are not uncommon. I have not spent alot of time considering these topics in the sports world before. Looking at sports from a sociological angle is new for me. To work in the business, I think it is very important to understand these concepts as much as possible. Discussing controversial topics and studying their history is the only way to fully grasp the concepts behind them. Everyone views these cases differently and although no opinion is incorrect, voicing those opinions in class enhances our discussions and I appreciate my classmates honesty.