Sociology

The author starts off the book by describing the nature of sports among women in our country. She first describes the quiet atmosphere of the dressing room and also the play fields. She says that the atmosphere of the play fields and the locker rooms can be described as an eerie silence and a dont tell atmosphere. This means that there are a lot of secrets that are taking places in these places secrets that nobody else knows other than the players themselves. However, she is the one who breaks this silence by writing this controversial book which is authoritative, courageous and even-handed in nature. The book is written as a thoughtful observation and at the same time the author also happens to be a longtime participant in the ideas discussed. (Griffin, 1998)

The author starts off by giving a brief narration of her own triumph and struggle as a lesbian coach and athlete. She tells us of her double life that she used to live for many years. She tells us that during that time, she was dating a man who was coaching wrestling. The main reason for this was to give the supportive lesbian community of athletes and everyone else the right impression or a good person who was straight. (Griffin, 1998)

The author then uses a solid framework and revisits some of her stories which as a reader one recognizes them from the popular press. There is also some addition strength in her study which she gains through excerpted interviews conducted on a dozen of lesbian players and coaches. She later deals with the issue of the effects of homophobia on women athletes, the strategies that those players and coaches that are lesbian use to protect or assert their identities, and the impact that the evangelical Christian sport ministries have. She includes some photos in the book which can be said to bear witness to the previous and sometimes present powers of heterosexism over women in sports. However, along these unhappy testimonies, it is possible to find the glowing bodies and the energetic faces of lesbian athletes. (Griffin, 1998)

I would consider this book an excellent selection for most of the women studies courses. I would also consider it as a valuable tool for all those people who love sports and especially women. It is a valuable tool for all those people who would like to be responsible athletic directors, coaches and also concerned parents. Even though the book may sound unsatisfying especially to all those people who are well familiar with the gay history and feminist theory, it can be said to provide those resources that are necessary so as to meet the challenge. The author poses to bring to light what I can refer as lesbian bogeyman. The main reason she does this is for the sake of the current and also the future sportswomen, straight, bisexual and gay. This is a perfect reading and its impact can only be improved by introducing it to the sportswomen who are already in the field. Lesbianism is real and it is there and should not be looked down upon. People should come out of darkness and help to prevent others from being in this bondage. (Griffin, 1998)

Some of the questions that we should ask ourselves are
How can we tell whether our people are lesbians
If they are lesbians, how do we get them out of that bondage
What is the main reason why these people have to hide their true identity
What impact does these activities or practices have on their popularity in sports
How can we prevent our future sportswomen from going through what our current sports people are going