2019 Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 29-48
In this paper, I examine the placement of masculinity in sports, which has been developed as a malecentred (male-gendered) culture, particularly considering the changes in the previous decade. Thus far, research on masculinity in sports has primarily focused on gender disparity and (male) homophobia. However, in the 2000s, after the acquisition of sexual minority rights in Western societies, particularly in Britain and the United States, the mainstreaming of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community has gradually promoted the acceptance of homosexual people in military and sports, which are considered the final strongholds of male homosociality.
I further highlight the global rearrangement of gender images and the extent of masculinity in racial and sports contexts by providing examples of East Asian male figure skaters. Since the 2000s, these players have been prominent in figure skating, where having a feminine image is accepted.
In addition, homosexuality is no longer considered a taboo for masculinity; by contrast, the strengthening of gender norms is considered a “gender-oriented” cultural value in English-speaking countries.
