Gender in Sports

In high schools and junior high schools across the country the importance of interscholastic sports competitions is strongly demonstrated to the students. They see the rewards and accolades given to the accomplished athletes, not only at these levels, but at the collegiate and professional levels as well. While most of these teams are formed and exist for both men and women, it is interesting how different each team tends to be treated. At High school football games, for example, the students and faculty show up in record numbers to prove their loyalty to the team and to the school itself. This football team is always comprised of men who use the sport to demonstrate their masculinity through the smashing and bashing of each other's skulls. Occasionally, one may find a select number of women who had to fight their way onto the team only to sit on the sidelines and watch. It is quite probable that such girls are only able to get onto the teams on the basis that most schools simply do not have a football team dedicated solely to the women football athletes. …