The Arena of Masculinity: Sports, Homosexuality, and the Meaning of Sex [Paperback]

Brian Pronger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1992

Sports are perhaps the most visible expression of the ideals of masculinity in our society, and figure as a training ground on which young boys are taught what it means to be a man. Given the involvement of sports with masculinity, the homosexual athlete becomes a paradox, and the recent explosive growth of gay sporting leagues, a puzzle.

Pronger explores the paradoxical position of the gay athlete in a straight sporting world, examines the homoerotic undercurrent subliminally present in the masculine struggle of sports, and explicates the growth of gay sports in the framework of the developing gay culture.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A Research Fellow at the University of Toronto, Pronger seeks to interpret the male homosexual experience in the world of sports as a way of analyzing the meaning of sex and gender in contemporary, middle-class North American society. Alternately academic (setting up such sociological constructs), anecdotal (excerpting interviews with 34 men), and personal, the author explores covert homoeroticism in sports, athletic images as erotic icons for gay men, and the increase of gay sports in the arena of developing gay culture. A provocative, if sometimes awkward, study tackling a long-ignored aspect of sports.
- James E. Van Buskirk, San Francisco P.L.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A remarkable discussion of athletics, male sexuality, and gay sensibility that has not heretofore been heard in tones above a whisper. A stunning achievement."—Books in Canada

"A significant contribution to the critical literature about sex and gender roles."—San Francisco Bay Times

"A refreshing, often humorous look at gay sensibility that debunks many traditional, macho-male icons."—Vancouver Sun

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (May 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312062931
• ISBN-13: 978-0312062934
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Earnest study of a hot topic, December 7, 2003

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Arena of Masculinity: Sports, Homosexuality, and the Meaning of Sex (Stonewall Inn Editions) (Paperback)

Brian Pronger's 1992 book still remains interesting today. For most of the first part Pronger constructs his thesis methodically and earnestly: that homosexuality is a subversion of the basic patriarchal structure of Western society, that mandates the power and domination of men over women. Conventional masculine sports represents a heightening of patriarchal expression, notably in the violence of contact sports such as football and hockey. Thus, the gay man (and the book is exclusively about gay men) involved in sports finds himself caught in a paradox, simultaneously subverting the orthodox patriarchy while in many cases worshipping the conventional masculine ideal.

Pronger's views are convincing, though the reader may feel that he takes too long to build his case. However, the book has many excerpts from interviews with gay athletes and gay men who are simply interested in sports, and these anecdotes lend immediacy and interest to the sometimes rather dry analysis. They also, one must admit, are frequently hot, as are the copious illustrations. Pronger's succinct description of the psychological significance of the jockstrap is a classic of its kind. All in all, Pronger's book offers titillation and elucidation in equal, satisfying parts.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of the masculine sports stereotype, June 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arena of Masculinity: Sports, Homosexuality, and the Meaning of Sex (Paperback)

I had doubts when purchasing this book, but found it to be very well researched and easy to understand. Full of interesting quotes and interviews I would highly recomend it to any individual interested in the realtionship between sports and athletes, be they straight or gay. A most excellent book and one that has been badly needed in the area of gay studies.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Arena of Maculinity, December 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arena of Masculinity: Sports, Homosexuality, and the Meaning of Sex (Paperback)

I think this book is very well researched and extremely interesing, although at times it felt as if the author fell in the realm of "orthodoxy" that he was analyzing and deconstructing. Tough subject, though, for as the author intelligently describes, sports are another tool of the patriarchal orthodox social/economical system,and as consequence, people without an acceptable role in that system really have no place, in some sports at least. In my opinion, the best thing about this book is the thorough analysis that the author makes about how our culture created and struggles to maintain the patriachal system which opresses mainly women and anyone else who does not fit in neatly. An excellent read, could not put it down.