The Stereotype of Masculinity in the NFL - 1647 Words

Intro to Social Problems The Stereotype of Masculinity in the NFL Recently, there was a major bullying scandal, not in a school, or a playground, but within one of the franchises of the NFL. The case involved two of the Miami Dolphins offensive linemen, Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito. Richie Incognito was accused of verbally abusing Jonathan Martin, as well as sending threatening text messages and voicemails. As this story was coming to light, rumors arose that it was at the direction of the coaching staff to toughen up Martin and to make him â€Å"more of a man.† These rumors were never proven to be true, but because of the public’s perception of the culture of football, and the NFL in particular, the rumors seemed believable. Many players made statements in support of Richie Incognito, saying that many of the things said in that locker room were said across the league. They said it was just a part of the culture of the game and that Martin â€Å"broke the code† when he left the t eam. This lack of concern from many of the players in the league leads to the question of what role masculinity plays in professional sports like the NFL. In a league where reputation is everything, whether it is related to on-field intimidation or simply to lead to a big contract, how does masculinity shape this reputation and the league itself? A singular and limited view of masculinity has hijacked professional sports, the NFL especially, and has led to a culture where many players cannot tellShow MoreRelatedDomestic Violence Among Celebrities Are More Violent Than Average Citizens1947 Words   |  8 Pagesassumptions about the nature of this social problem. Specifically, there is no evidence to suggest that NFL players are more violent than average citizens. The present paper will evaluate this phenomenon from an interdisciplinary perspective employing the integration theory to synthesize psychological, sociological and anthropological theoretical frameworks. The Ray Rice Case Ray Rice is an NFL player who was involved in a physical altercation with his fiancà ©. Rice was charged with assault and theRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Old Spice1186 Words   |  5 Pagescompany specialized in producing men’s hygienic products, is well known for its series of funny advertising based off of traditional masculine ideals. The most popular Old Spice commercial, â€Å"The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,† uses a bundle of gender stereotypes, humor, and the use of rhetorical strategies, such as ethos and pathos, in order to catch the audience’s attention and convince them to switch to Old Spice and buy their Red Zone body wash. 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This perspective depicts men of color wearing attire outside of the stereotypical sagging pants and oversized t-shirts. It depicts an educated man with social class and sophistication. To date, society holds African American men to rigid stereotypes and a high standard of masculinity. However, once a man of color steps outside societal stereotypes and into the perspective reflected by