Misogynistic/homophobic Conversations and Sexism in School Athletic Club Activities

Abstract

  Through qualitative research, previous studies have revealed that misogyny and homophobia are observed in college and high school athletic club activities for male athletes to bond with each other. The purpose of this study was to reveal the reality of misogynistic/homophobic conversations in school athletic club activities and how they are related to sexism through an analysis of group interviews and questionnaires.

  The group interviews were conducted in three groups, with three participants per group. Three cisgender, heterosexual women did not engage in misogynistic/homophobic conversations during school athletic club activities. In contrast, three cisgender, heterosexual men had misogynistic conversations that regarded women as sexual objects and homophobic discussions about homosexuality being a taboo among male athletes.

  The questionnaire survey was analyzed in detail and a multiple regression analysis was conducted with attitudes toward asymmetrical sexual relationships, in which women were regarded as sexual objects and men as sexual subjects, and attitudes toward gay men as the dependent variables. The results showed that most men affirmed asymmetrical sexual relationships more than the majority of women, which was mediated by their experience in athletic clubs and misogynistic/homophobic conversations in athletic club activities. In contrast, misogynistic/homophobic discussions did not positively affect attitudes toward gay men. Additionally, both dependent variables were strongly related to the factor of biological essentialism that assumes men and women to be inherently different.

  The analysis reveals that misogyny and homophobia in school athletic club activities cultivate sexism. It is necessary to question the tendency to assume differences between men and women as natural to address this problem.