Kid Crosby or Golden Boy: Sidney Crosby, Canadian national identity, and the policing of hockey masculinity

Abstract

In this article, I will explore how Canadian national identity is constructed with regard to ice hockey. National Hockey League (NHL) star, Sidney Crosby has been positioned as an important symbol of Canadian national identity. Given Crosby’s perceived importance, particularly within the Canadian media, I will examine how he is constructed as an appropriate model of Canadian masculinity and Canadian national identity. Crosby’s expressions of masculinity are not to be left to chance and for that reason there has been constant surveillance and critique of his expressions of masculinity. Interestingly, although the media tends to construct Crosby as a model of Canadian masculine identity, fans of the game (as well as some players and others in the media) frequently challenge this construction.

Masculinity and Sport Revisted: A Review of Literature on Hegemonic Masculinity and Men's Ice Hockey in Canada

“…Most of the authors agree that the physical nature of ice hockey requires players to display a certain form of aggression and bravado that they would not require in http://cgjsc.ca everyday life (Colburn, 1985;Young, 2000;Robidoux, 2001;Adams, 2006;Allain, 2010). British sport sociologist Kevin Young (2000) notes that although sport violence in Canada and the United States often technically qualifies as criminal assault, athletes are usually excused from such crimes during games.…”

“…Academic literature on Canadian ice hockey shows that it has long been accused of promulgating masculine character traits to the extent that they become problematic (Robidoux, 2001(Robidoux, , 2002Adams, 2006Adams, , 2011Allain, 2008Allain, , 2010Allain, , 2012Gee, 2009;Atkinson, 2010). Since hockey is so deeply engrained in Canadian culture, it is often a primary site for the socialization of young males.…”

“…As a consequence of this socialization, hockey players are expected to be aggressive, stoic, competitive, independent, to show little emotion, and to police the maintenance of these traits amongst themselves, especially in the context of the game. Further, they hold other players to the same standard (Colburn, 1985;Robidoux, 2001Robidoux, , 2002Allain, 2008Allain, , 2010Allain, , 2012.…”

Hockey et politique : jalons pour une historiographie raisonnée

“…Ils ont par la suite réfléchi à l'évolution du hockey canadien dans le contexte de l'expansion nord-américaine du hockey et à ses conséquences sur la « décanadianisation » de ce sport 57 . L'influence de Gruneau et Whitson est marquante et continue de stimuler la recherche sur le potentiel mythologique du hockey dans la culture canadienne, que ce soit dans le discours du hockey comme institution sociale ritualisée 58 , ou encore dans la mythification de l'image de la vedette Sidney Crosby 59 . Compte tenu du fort potentiel de catalyseur identitaire que représente le sport pour n'importe quel groupe ethnoculturel ou national, la question québécoise, vue sous l'angle du rôle spécifique joué par le hockey dans la construction identitaire, a déjà reçu beaucoup d'attention de la part des chercheurs.…”

The need for a violence prevention programme in ice hockey: a case study on how hegemonic masculinity supports and challenges violent behaviour in Swedish ice hockey

“…Researchers have long highlighted how male team sporting cultures can construct an arena in which boys and men learn how to or risk becoming aggressive, homophobic, sexist and/or misogynous (Katz, 1995;Luisi et al, 2016;Messner, 1992;Messner & Sabo, 1994). Comprehensive research has highlighted the imprints of sexism and homophobia in North American hockey cultures (Allain, 2008(Allain, , 2011(Allain, , 2014Pappas et al, 2004). Being a physical contact sport performed on ice, with a long tradition of producing 'hyper-masculinity', this may not come as a surprise (e.g.…”