Gender and Sexuality in Physical Activity and Sport

Gender and Physical Activity: Social Construction and Identity

Gender expression is largely shaped by social conventions and rules. While being male or female is a fundamental aspect of personal identity, educational approaches should address the diverse possibilities of gender, moving beyond the idea that it is purely a matter of personal choice. Gender is a social construction imposed upon the body, and as such, it involves certain degrees of freedom and repression.

Implications of Gender in Physical Education and Sport

• Early Childhood Implications: Gender has implications from early childhood, as games are often part of gender expression, leading to the categorization of 'boys' games' and 'girls' games.
• Masculinity and Machismo in Sports: Modern team sports were historically created to foster manhood. They emphasize competitive values, obedience, and physiological changes resulting from training.
• Gender Identity in Sport: Gender identity issues are expressed in sport, just as in any other aspect of social life, though conclusions cannot be immediately or definitively drawn. In contemporary society, it is generally accepted for girls to play traditionally male sports, but traditionally female sports (such as gymnastics, aerobics, etc.) are often questioned when pursued by males.

Physical Activity and Sexuality

In ordinary language, sexuality refers to all sexual characteristics. We use the term primarily to refer to people's sexual behavior, which serves two main purposes:

1. Reproductive End: The desire to attract others, typically of the opposite sex.
2. Hedonistic End: Sexual desire that can be directed toward the other sex through various options.

Physical activities and sports significantly influence both the body and personality. The training of the body for physical activities and sports is often approached in gendered ways:

Gendered Body Construction Through Sport

Building the Female Body

Training often aims to approach the socially established canon of beauty, often seen in models or media. This pursuit can lead to anatomical or physiological changes related to physical activity. The concept of being in good physical shape is frequently linked to improved physical appearance and even an increase in the capacity for seduction.

Building the Male Body

Training aims to approach the canon often seen in fashion models or actors. The types of physical activities pursued are typically directed toward the development of resistance, strength, and muscle bulk. Furthermore, training often prepares men to cope with great effort and risky situations.