Beal (1996) Alternative masculinity and its effects on gender relations in the subculture of skateboarding

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Alternative masculinity and its effects on gender relations in the subculture of skateboarding

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Author:

Beal, B.

JOURNAL:

Journal of Sport Behavior (JSB), 19(3), 204 - 220.

YEAR:

1996

PUB TYPE:

Journal Article

SUBJECT(S):

skateboarding; subculture; masculinity; values; woman

DISCIPLINE:

No discipline assigned

HTTP:

https://secure.sportquest.com/su.cfm?articleno=415558&title=415558

LANGUAGE:

English

PUB ID:

103-343-513 (Last edited on 2002/02/27 18:44:14 US/Mountain)

SPONSOR(S):

ABSTRACT:
This paper will combine a feminist and critical perspective to describe how one group of young males created a non-hegemonic or alternative form of masculinity. The subculture of skateboarders I investigated chose not to live completely by the traditional and hegemonic forms of masculinity. In doing so, they created an alternative masculinity, one which explicitly critiqued the more traditional form. For example, the skateboarders emphasized participant control, self expression, and open participation which differ greatly from the hegemonic values of adult authority, conformity, and elite competition. This subculture of skateboarding is an example of how sport and masculinity are not "naturally" predetermined or universal, but instead how they are socially constructed by the participants and vary according to the social context. This paper will not only describe how they distinguished their subculture from traditional sport and hegemonic masculinity, but also investigate the resulting gender relations within the subculture, particularly how the males maintained the privilege of masculinity by differentiating and elevating themselves from females and femininity. Even though this subculture's values did not reflect mainstream masculinity, the participants defined skateboarding as a masculine practice. Therefore, they explained and justified the lack of female participation as a natural inability or as a choice of women not to skate. This subculture of skateboarding illustrates some of the contradictions that arise when people negotiate new social relations. For on one level skateboarding displayed resistance by redefining masculine behavior, yet on another level it reproduced patriarchal relations.

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