Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

A book that lets you "in" on the secret of locker room sex, but the author seems more amazed that this actually goes on and exist in real life. I bet when he discovered that there was men to men sex in the showers after a game he decided to write the book. What about all the affairs these players have amongst themselves (yet manage to keep it on a downlow). and what about the groopies that service or relieve these testesterone fill athletes in the locker-rooms? From ancient times (read The Greek Way by Edith Hamilton) there has been alot of sexual activity in the background of sports. If you werent straight and had the opportunity to share in that wouldn't you also be part of or a product of it?