Sports and Masculinity

Americans are so interested in sports because it gives people a sense of belonging. Whether it be a fan in a crowded place or a parent proud of their own kid playing everyone gets wrapped p in the excitement. It gives adults and kids something in common with those they're around and a sense of coming together. Now granted being a sports fan now a days is gotten to be kind of ridiculous. Having to buy all the different, expensive merchandise to people getting ad over things that aren't and would never be in their control to people right out rioting after games flipping over cars and what not. Now don't get me wrong I'm as much of a fan as the next person but I know how to control myself but guys take things way to far. Guys, when it comes to well everything, like to turn stuff into a competition ALL the time! I remember in gym class when we would play dodge ball or any other game the girls in my class would never want to play, there was only like 6 of us anyway. But we never wanted to participate because the guys were so into it and quite frankly dangerous enough to injure us. Well one day I was just collecting dodge balls to give them to the guys as always and a guy in the other team was near the line and not paying me any attention so I hit him with a dodge ball and got him out. He got so mad and told his whole team to go after me so I could be out and he could be back in. Talk about being scared for your life, guys throwing dodge balls at you hard, ya no thanks I really didn't want to participate after that.

So i guess negative aspects are that guys turn EVERYTHING into a competition. Another is how some sports highlight one player as the star and everyone thinks that that's going to be them when their older but it doesn't happen to often. I think the worst negative effect instilled in young boys is how violence is okay. They are taught that if they are hurt they have to suck it up and keep on going. Their taught that violence is a good thing in sports but then end up taking it outside the world of sports. Parent's also pressure their kids  to always be better and that they have to be the best and that there isn't any room for error. Because let's face it all parents think/want that their kids to go on to the pros and be the star. Losing isn't really an option in America's eyes and it's a shame because sports are truly supposed to be about making friends and having fun. With the pressure not to lose that sucks all the fun out of it. But there are some positive aspects of sports. Sports promotes unity among a team or just being apart of a team. Kids aren't seen as losers or outcasts if they are involved in sports. But if a boy isn't in some kind of sport he's judged by everyone like there is something wrong with him.

So I think that sports has become way to much of an aspect in our daily lives with mostly negative effects, especially on young boys.