Examining Media Contestation of Masculinity and Head Trauma in the National Football League

Abstract

American football has long been central to the construction of masculinity in the United States. Of the multiple masculine scripts promoting professional players' hegemonic masculine status, sacrificing one's body for the sake of sporting glory is a key tenet. Sport journalists have traditionally used their media platform to reify this social script, an act which simultaneously promotes their own masculine capital. However, this article investigates a crack in this hegemonic system. Through a media analysis of the reporting on Aaron Rodgers' self-withdrawal (after hitting his head) from an important National Football League (NFL) game, we argue that increasing cultural awareness as to the devastating effects of concussions, in the form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, combined with a softening of American masculinity is beginning to permit some prominent players to distance themselves from the self-sacrifice component of sporting masculinity. Concerning concussions, we conclude major sport media are beginning to support the notion of health over a masculine warrior narrative.

Danger zone: Men, masculinity and occupational health and safety in high risk occupations

“…competitiveness, toughness, aggressiveness) may also occur amongst women, and women who work in male-dominated occupations may accept similar risks to men as a result of larger institutional practices (Breslin and Polzer, 2007). This is clearly evident amongst professional and elite level athletes, where both men and women are expected to accept risk and pain, illustrating the complexity of how gender may present in social contexts (Anderson and Kian, 2012;Hammond et al, 2013;Roderick, 2006;Theberge, 2008). Thus, by examining how institutionalized gender practices and the gendering of workplaces may influence workplace health and safety we suggest that we can enhance our understandings of how social processes can be used to develop and implement effective health and safety strategies.…”

“…Within the context of high risk male-dominated occupations, theories of hegemonic masculinity have been applied to examining men's practices in professional sports (Anderson and Kian, 2012), construction (Ibanez and Narocki, 2011;Iacuone, 2005), farming (Alston and Kent, 2008), forestry (Brandth and Haugen, 2000), logging (Coen et al, 2013), transportation (Petterson, 2006), and the military (Hinojosa, 2010). For example, in a study examining media coverage of head injuries in the National Football league, Anderson and Kian show how professional football players are encouraged to identify with hegemonically masculine norms and sacrifice their bodies and health for sporting glory (Anderson and Kian, 2012).…”

“…For example, in a study examining media coverage of head injuries in the National Football league, Anderson and Kian show how professional football players are encouraged to identify with hegemonically masculine norms and sacrifice their bodies and health for sporting glory (Anderson and Kian, 2012). Hinojosa illustrates how military men use hegemonically masculine discourses to establish occupational hierarchies and to differentiate themselves as superior to other military and non-military personnel -who are considered less physically able, less emotionally controlled and self-disciplined, and less willing to take risks (Hinojosa, 2010).…”

“…Heroic and otherwise hypermasculine behaviours have been identified in many studies examining high risk male occupations. These include mining (Forestell, 2006), farming (Durey and Lower, 2004), construction (Iacuone, 2005), firefighting (Desmond, 2006), the military (Hinojosa, 2010), protective service workers (Cheek and Miller, 1983) and professional athletes (Anderson and Kian, 2012). As Laplonge notes, doing dangerous work is frequently equated to doing gender (Laplonge and Albury, 2013).…”

Student Athletes’ Perceptions of Concussions through Media Consumption

“…Some NFL players such as Aaron Rodgers, who took himself out of a game after hitting his head [24] and collegiate football players are becoming more concerned about their long-term health due to injuries sustained while playing the game. A class action lawsuit by collegiate athletes was recently filed against the NCAA.…”