The Athletic Patriarchy

            Women's rights has been a hot topic of debate ever since societies and nations started forming. Even Abigail Adams, who would later be our second First Lady, spoke to her husband on the rights of women as the United States was being founded. She said to "remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation." The ladies have indeed sparked a rebellion, or a movement, and feminists everywhere are arguing and standing up for the equality of women. With so much of the world dominated by the patriarchy, there is an argument to be found in at least one aspect of each of our lives. Athletics are a great representation of this male-dominated society. Homophobic locker culture, hegemonic masculinity in athletics, and domestic violence among athletes are all prime examples of how our society still continues to keep men as the dominating sex in athletics today. .
             The locker room of a sports team is a great place to start when looking at how men and masculinity rule in society. Male athletes are a symbol of all that is masculine in the world today. They adhere to the idea of Collective Dominant Masculinity, which is the patterns of conduct society defines as masculine. These characteristics can include violence or toughness, emotional restraint, risk-taking, and competitiveness. If a male athlete does not live up to these standards of masculinity, he is shamed by his teammates, and he can even risk losing his job. For example, Katie McDonough speaks about the NFL player, Michael Sam, in her article, "NFL executives respond to Michael Sam's coming out with cynical homophobia.