The Southern Sociological Society is organizing their 2015 annual conference in New Orleans around the theme of “Stalled Revolutions? Gender Inequality in the 21st Century” with the question mark specifically indicating recognition that it is debatable whether or not the gender revolution has stalled at all and, if so, to what degree.
In conjunction with the conference theme, I am currently devising a session on “sport and stalled revolutions”. The description of the session is as follows:
SPORT AND STALLED REVOLUTIONS 3: HOMOPHOBIA IN MEN’S SPORTS
Sport has long been considered a homophobic social institution, one where heteronormative conceptions of masculinity prevail and homosexuality must be closeted. Indeed, until recently there were no active male players in any of the major sporting leagues who were openly gay. Yet, in just the past few years a number of high profile athletes (Jason Collins, Robbie Rogers, Michael Sam) have declared a non-heteronormative sexual identity while still actively playing sports at an elite level. Interestingly, these announcements have often been met not with condemnation, but open declarations of support from teammates, coaches, and administrators.
Therefore this session seeks to query, in conjunction with the conference theme, the role of sport as a social institution in generating a more equal society regarding sexuality. We seek papers that address the following questions either generally or as a part of a more grounded empirical study: In what ways has sport provided a powerful setting for articulating alternative conceptions of male sexuality? In what ways does it reinforce existing conceptions? What are the possibilities and problems of attempts to generate social change via sport? How does sport compare to other institutions characterized by stalled revolutions (e.g. work, family)?
If you would like your paper considered for this session, please submit the following to Daniel Buffington (buffingtond@uncw.edu) by Wednesday, October 15:
1) the title of the paper
2) name, affiliation, and contact information for each author
3) an extended abstract of approximately 450-550 words
***note that at least one author on each paper must be a member of SSS for the paper to be considered (per SSS policies)
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