Sociology

Sports are activities that are widely gender stereotyped in the society. Male sports and female sports exhibit masculinity and femininity respectively. In the various researches conducted in this arena, it is clear that the participation or choice of sporting activity is largely influenced by gender. Children as young as two years old are known to have sidelined their choices on gender basis, i.e. participating or choosing lifestyles that suit them. In the article, the authors purpose is to explore the link between stigma consciousness and participation in gender typed sports among girls and boys between ages 8-10. The author chooses this group because their gender roles are not fully developed like in teenagers, hence are liable to be influenced by the external environment (Dorothy  Deborah, 2006).

Existing research suggests that women are less stigma conscious about gender stereotype in sports than men. The societal perception regarding gender and sports is hard on men. A man participating in feminine-type of sport is vulnerable to raising suspicion over his masculinity, which is the main reason why men do not engage in feminine-type sport such as cheerleading, ballet, dance and rope jumping. However, women involvement in masculine sports is not a big deal as such a reason unto why women are increasingly participating in male-typed sports such as football, basketball, and athletics to mention a few.

In the current research, the researcher has been able to explore social stigma consciousness in participation in gender typed sports in children. Children are less aware of their gender roles at this age. In fact, from the research, it was clear that children did not know exactly why certain games were for men and others for women. Most of them conformed to the interview that I carried out with a ten-year-old female. Girls generally believe that certain sports are for men because the society, media and the environment in general have taught them so. The girl I interviewed similarly had the same perception and believed that if a man wanted to participate in ballet dance, then why should not he do that

For boys it is different. They believe that gender type sports are linked to their behaviour. In the current article, most boys portrayed the need for aggression, competition, and roughness. One of the boys said that football was for boys because they like getting dirty. However, the general view of the children is out of gender stereotyping as compared to adults. Previous works on this field associate stigmatization of gender typed sports in male (Dorothy  Deborah, 2006). Men may either participate constantly in a particular feminine typed sport and develop resistance to stigma or shun from such involvement altogether. The girl I interviewed is very open-minded she thinks that it is just the perception of the society that certain sports are meant for a particular gender. The girl has a positive notion in sports and believes that participation in any game is normal and healthy.

Existing research and the reality or the truth on the ground are very much similar. Childrens perception of sports and gender is evident but holds a different notion from adults. Children generally blame or point out the society, media and the environment as the major influences of gender and sports. It was evident in research in the article that girls are not stigmatized for participating in masculine typed sports. In the interview I conducted, this was totally different the girl limned no stigmatization for any persons involvement in any type of sports.

In the article, the author agrees that there has been an increase in participation of boys and girls in neutral based sports. This is a clear indication that boys and girls have little to do with what they choose but is influenced by the society. Despite the campaigns for gender equality, gender sensitization in sports persists. In the article, the researcher noted larger participation of girls in masculine sports while boys remained conservative and have little or no engagement in feminine games. The researcher suggests that the main reason for this disparity is due to the high value social status and value attached to masculinity and the efforts of girls and women to earn respect by engaging in the masculine activities (Dorothy  Deborah, 2006). This was also discovered in the interview I conducted as the girl agreed that participating in a mens sport would show that she is confident and strong. However, the girl I interviewed does not really agree that men are devalued by engaging in feminine activities. According to the research in the article, children have no stigma in sports and probably develop this attitude at later adolescent stage.