‘I used to think women were weak:’ Orthodox Masculinity, Gender-Segregation and Sport

This article explores the cultural and structural forces that help influence the reproduction of sexist, misogynistic and anti-feminine attitudes among men in teamsports. It first shows how the segregation of men into a homosocial environment limits their social contact with women and fosters an oppositional masculinity that influences the reproduction of orthodox views regarding women. However, this research also shows that when these same men compete in the gender-integrated sport of cheerleading, they positively reformulate their attitudes toward women. These findings therefore suggest that gender-integrating sports might potentially decrease some of the socio-negative outcomes attributed to male teamsport athletes, possibly including violence against women.