"Hooligans, Studs and Queers" by Varda Burstyn was fascinating to read. Everyone probably has someone in their lives that they would put into the "hypermasculine" group, someone who is a tough guy and believes that their strength can dominate all others in all realms of life. A good friend of mine actually just married someone that jumped immediately into my mind when I read the first few sentences of this chapter. I personally think he is a little bit much and its not always fun to get into a disagreement with him or try playing games with him. But I digress....
Within this chapter, Burstyn pulls this concept of hypermasculinity into the sports arena of life, mentioning three examples of masculinity: "british football hooliganism, the cult of the black super-athlete and the convergence of gay culture with the athleticized body" (193).
He then goes on to talk about the “cult of the black super athlete”, He makes references to Tiger Woods, Jackie Robinson, Isaiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan, saying “the media and the world of sports celebrated these events and the remarkable black athletes who had, in intervening decades, risen to prominence in all the major North American sports (with the exception of hockey) ( Burstyn, 201). He also goes on to say that “the black super athlete has been welcomed as a wholesome, healthy, successful role model. Indeed, the athlete’s triumph is felt by many to rehabilitate the image of the black male, so distorted and stereotyped by mainstream, racist culture” (202). He talks about how the dominance of black men and their success in the realm of sports and other prominent positions and the effect it’s had on the image of black males in society.
The last representation of masculinity Burstyn talked about was the “athleticization of gay culture” (213). He first mentions that the previous two forms are homophobic, while this is one is basically the absence of masculinity. He mentions that masculinity came to “be defined in terms of men’s sexual conquest of women and of the repudiation of ‘feminine’ (expressive and receptive) qualities in themselves and other men” (213). He mentions the fact that there are only a few gay athletes that have come out because even if they are gay, they keep it to themselves, “appearing to be heterosexual” (214).
In his chapter entitled Advertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity, Jackson Katz explores the portrayals of masculinity within advertising, specifically of white males. He talks about the "construction of dominant masculinity" (351), as made by the media and enforced in today's society. He cites advertising specifically as molding and shaping men's views of masculinity, calling an "omnipresent and rich source of gender ideology" (351).Connecting with Berstyn's arguement, he talks about the portraying men as masculine in magazines and advertising using characteristics such as "the angry, aggressive, White working class male as anti-authority rebel; violence as genetically programmed male behavior; the use of military and sports symbolism to enhance the masculine identity; and the equation of heroic masculinitywith violent masculinity" (352).
I talked about the hooliganism form earlier on in this blog. The best example I can think of for this is my own state. I live in MA, home of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and New England Patriots. In the past few years, we have been winning titles left and right (we won't mention last February). When we win a title, the entire city goes crazy. People are hanging off the street lights, there is dancing in the streets, loud shouts of exclamations heard everywhere, hugging of total strangers, cars beeping horns, etc. I'm sure it’s no different in any other city, should the same happen, I'm just speaking from personal experience. When the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years, it was the biggest party and the most trouble times 10. I guess I never thought anything of it, it was just what we did. This is what happens when we win. Boston teams are so dedicated to their teams so they feel Now for the flip side...
This year, our star quarterback on the Patriots, Tom Brady tore his ACL in the first quarter of the first season game and it was determined that he would be out for the entirety of the season. Talk about devastation. I talked to my dad a few hours after the press conference and he said that at the grocery store, all the men were walking around like zombies, only expressions of hurt and disappointment on their faces.
And as for the violence we also have the famous rivalry
with the New York Yankees. I know all the history behind it, but unless you have actually been present at one of the two teams meeting, you cannot understand. Even when baseball is off season, or it’s another completely different event, sports or otherwise, it is not uncommon for a "YANKEES SUCK" chant to rise above the crowds. At mutual games, there is a heightened number of security to keep an eye on the inevitable fights that will break out. Not to mention the occassional fights that break out between the players on the field...
In all of these cases, while it is predominantly men acting this way, there are also some women that get quite into this as well. Is there such a thing as hypermasculinity hooliganism feminine style?
Within this chapter, Burstyn pulls this concept of hypermasculinity into the sports arena of life, mentioning three examples of masculinity: "british football hooliganism, the cult of the black super-athlete and the convergence of gay culture with the athleticized body" (193).
First, he begins with the british football holiganism, in which he talks about the overzealousness of fans over any sport. He is mainly talking about the pro sport arena but I would argue that some of this could even be exhibited in children rec leagues. We have heard countless stories of out of control parents over kids who should be there to have fun. Burstyn cites specific incidents of murder when it came to pro sports victories. He explains a possible root cause for this: "The core identification that links municipal and national identifications for the football hooligan is expressed in a physically palpable celebration of masculine coercive entitlement on the streets of neighborhoods of cities affliated to rival teams. Through the ritual desecration this celebration involves, we see how the male fans need to confirm his masculinity and reclaim his manhood impart power to the other traditionally 'political' identification-local, racial, ethnic or national-the athletic contest is seen to represent"(198). These men are not even apart of the teams but they get so caught up and so when there is a loss, it is absolute devastation and when there is a win, it is the ultimate moment in their lives.
He then goes on to talk about the “cult of the black super athlete”, He makes references to Tiger Woods, Jackie Robinson, Isaiah Thomas, and Michael Jordan, saying “the media and the world of sports celebrated these events and the remarkable black athletes who had, in intervening decades, risen to prominence in all the major North American sports (with the exception of hockey) ( Burstyn, 201). He also goes on to say that “the black super athlete has been welcomed as a wholesome, healthy, successful role model. Indeed, the athlete’s triumph is felt by many to rehabilitate the image of the black male, so distorted and stereotyped by mainstream, racist culture” (202). He talks about how the dominance of black men and their success in the realm of sports and other prominent positions and the effect it’s had on the image of black males in society.
The last representation of masculinity Burstyn talked about was the “athleticization of gay culture” (213). He first mentions that the previous two forms are homophobic, while this is one is basically the absence of masculinity. He mentions that masculinity came to “be defined in terms of men’s sexual conquest of women and of the repudiation of ‘feminine’ (expressive and receptive) qualities in themselves and other men” (213). He mentions the fact that there are only a few gay athletes that have come out because even if they are gay, they keep it to themselves, “appearing to be heterosexual” (214).
In his chapter entitled Advertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity, Jackson Katz explores the portrayals of masculinity within advertising, specifically of white males. He talks about the "construction of dominant masculinity" (351), as made by the media and enforced in today's society. He cites advertising specifically as molding and shaping men's views of masculinity, calling an "omnipresent and rich source of gender ideology" (351).Connecting with Berstyn's arguement, he talks about the portraying men as masculine in magazines and advertising using characteristics such as "the angry, aggressive, White working class male as anti-authority rebel; violence as genetically programmed male behavior; the use of military and sports symbolism to enhance the masculine identity; and the equation of heroic masculinitywith violent masculinity" (352).
I talked about the hooliganism form earlier on in this blog. The best example I can think of for this is my own state. I live in MA, home of the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and New England Patriots. In the past few years, we have been winning titles left and right (we won't mention last February). When we win a title, the entire city goes crazy. People are hanging off the street lights, there is dancing in the streets, loud shouts of exclamations heard everywhere, hugging of total strangers, cars beeping horns, etc. I'm sure it’s no different in any other city, should the same happen, I'm just speaking from personal experience. When the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in 86 years, it was the biggest party and the most trouble times 10. I guess I never thought anything of it, it was just what we did. This is what happens when we win. Boston teams are so dedicated to their teams so they feel Now for the flip side...
This year, our star quarterback on the Patriots, Tom Brady tore his ACL in the first quarter of the first season game and it was determined that he would be out for the entirety of the season. Talk about devastation. I talked to my dad a few hours after the press conference and he said that at the grocery store, all the men were walking around like zombies, only expressions of hurt and disappointment on their faces.
And as for the violence we also have the famous rivalry
with the New York Yankees. I know all the history behind it, but unless you have actually been present at one of the two teams meeting, you cannot understand. Even when baseball is off season, or it’s another completely different event, sports or otherwise, it is not uncommon for a "YANKEES SUCK" chant to rise above the crowds. At mutual games, there is a heightened number of security to keep an eye on the inevitable fights that will break out. Not to mention the occassional fights that break out between the players on the field...In all of these cases, while it is predominantly men acting this way, there are also some women that get quite into this as well. Is there such a thing as hypermasculinity hooliganism feminine style?
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