PED 160: Sex, Gender, and Sexuality

sex

anatomical features, physical characteristics, genes and hormones associated with being male or female

gender

attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person's biological sex

sexuality

the presumably biologically-based desire in people that finds expression through sexual activity and sexual relationships.

sexual orientation

the sex of those to whom one is sexually and romantically attracted.

sex/gender system

-the set of arrangements by which a society transforms biological sexuality into products of human activity, and in which these transformed sexual needs are satisfied

-involves the social creation of two genders from biological sex, a particular sexual division of labor, and the social regulation of sexuality.

What are gender norms?

-the accepted ideas of how women and men should be and act within a specific society or community; "feminine" or "masculine"

-leads to formation of gender roles in society

where do gender norms come from?

biological determinism and social constructionism

biological determinism of gender norms

idea that certain characteristics are inherently distinct as a result of biological factors

social constructionism of gender norms

-many things that we view as conventional actually reflect historically and culturally rooted power relationships between groups of people

-socialization processes where we learn conventional ways of thinking and behaving from our families and communities

Does the history of sport support the idea that gendered behaviors result from biology?

no.

-a century ago in western society, it was argued that women's biology made them incapable of participating in vigourous sports

-during the late 19th century women began riding bicycles. this was strongly opposed by men but the bike became an instrument of change.

feminist theory

a critical theory that sheds light on the role of sex and gender to both macro and micro aspects of our social world

gender ideology

-a dominant set of interrelated ideas bout masculinity and femininity

-socially ingrained habits, skills, and dispositions. It is the way that individuals perceive the social world around them and react to it.

-varies from time to time and place

-socially constructed (100 years ago it was common sense that women were incapable of participating in sport)

muscular Christianity ideology

preparation for war and colonial service

masculinizing practice

-crucial role in establishing/maintaining a sex-gender system and the power of some men.

-has historically reasserted maleness with toughness, aggression, and power

hegemonic masculinity

-socially constructed masculine ideal defined as opposite of femininity, and held up as the most prestigious form of manliness

-traditionally reinforced heterosexuality, aggression, and assertiveness as dominant standard for boys/men to consensually aspire to

hegemonic masculinity in sports

-men should take harmful steroids to boost performance, play through pain, inferiorize sports women and their activities, engage in aggression, and go along with homophobic degrading practices

Sport and the Sex-Gender System

1. historical struggle to challenge patriarchal social relations in sport

2. Media coverage: vastly unequal content and different themes, but slowly changing

3. Hisotrical focus on separation of sexes in sport

4. Sport Typing

5. Sex-specific rules and resources based on physical difference and ideology

6. Sex testing and sport

Gender marking

the verbal and visual presentation of male athletes and men's sports as being the norm, while rendering female athletes and women's competitions as secondary

issues women face in sport media

1. heterosexuality: serves to degrade their athletic accomplishments and instead focus on physical appearance, style of dress, her life as a mother/girlfriend.

2. Femininity: pressure to maintain a feminine appearance (clothing, posture, sex appeal)

3. Sexism

sport typing

gendered ideology that promotes certain sports as more appropriate for one sex than the other.

sex testing and sport

-consequence of sex segregation and fear of men competing unfairly against women

-discontinued in 1999; now used to identify intersex athletes or ones that have naturally high testosterone levels

concern for trans atheltes competing

how to balance the rights of trans athletes to compete in category of choice: equality of opportunity vs. concerns about equality of condition

IOC Guidelines for Transgender sport participation: 2021

-no presumption that trans women have an automatic advantage over natal women

-had left it up to each sport to decide its own rules around inclusion and fairness

-trans women should not have to reduce testosterone

FINA (water sports governing body) policy: rules and power relations

-requires trans women to have completed sex reassignment by age 12 to compete in womens categories since they believe that rans women who have experienced puberty as a male have advantages

Change in sport regarding LGBTQ...

more and more thletes coming out

-still difficult for gay men in hypermasculine team sport environment so most come out after their careers end

LGBTQ pubic support from Pro Sport

-You Can Play Campaign: dedicated to eradicate homophobia in sport

-prominent executives in pro sport have come out

-professional athletes walking in pride parade