Does sexuality play in the stadium? Climate of tolerance/rejection towards sexual diversity among soccer players in Spain

Abstract

Traditionally, sport has been an environment of discrimination and hostility towards diverse sexual orientations. Yet, recent studies with young athletes signal greater tolerance towards this phenomenon in sport. The acceptance of sexual diversity in sport remains understudied in Spain. This study sought to understand if Spanish sport presents Eric Anderson’s classification of attitudes that are more or less tolerant of sexual diversity. For this, a convenience sample of 279 Spanish soccer players (90.7% males; 9.3% females) was used. Attitudes were measured in an experimental form with the SDS – Attitude Scale towards Sexual Diversity in Sport questionnaire. Results demonstrate medium levels of rejection towards sexual diversity. The data generated by this study can help sport managers implement sensible and effective measures with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to ameliorate discrimination in soccer.

Keywords:

• Soccer
• sexual diversity
• rejection
• tolerance
• attitudes

Notes

1. Werthner, Culver, and Mercier, ‘Changing the Androcentric World of Sport’.

2. Ayvazo and Sutherland, ‘Uncovering the Secrets’; Dowling, ‘Teacher Educators’ Gendered Workplace Tales’.

3. Anderson, 21st Century Jocks.

4. Lenskyj, ‘Sexuality and Femininity in Sport Contexts’.

5. Hargreaves, Sporting Females.

6. Kauer and Krane, ‘Scary Dykes and Feminine Queens’.

7. Griffin, Sexual Orientation.

8. See note 6; Anderson, McCormack, and Lee, ‘Male Team Sport Hazing Initiations’; Oswalt and Vargas, ‘How Safe Is The Playing Field?’; Ensign et al., ‘Athletic Trainers’ Attitudes’.

9. Davis-Delano, ‘Sport as Context for the Development’; Griffin, Strong Women, Deep Closets; O’Brien, Shovelton, and Latner, ‘Homophobia in Physical Education and Sport’; Piedra, ‘Gays and Lesbians in Sport’; Pronger, Research on Men and Masculinities.

10. See Anderson, ‘Openly Gay Athletes Contesting Hegemonic Masculinity’; Sternod, Learning Culture Through Sports.

11. See Sparkes, Devís, and Miguel, ‘¿Qué permanece oculto del currículum oculto?’; Krane and Barber ‘Lesbian Experiences in Sport’; Norman ‘The Concepts Underpinning Everyday Gendered Homophobia’.

12. See Ensign et al., ‘Athletic Trainers’ Attitudes’; Roper and Halloran, ‘Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbians’.

13. Vidiella et al., ‘Masculinidad hegemónica’.

14. Bury, ‘Can a Footballer be Gay?’.

15. http://www.outsports.com/2015/5/31/8696237/lesbian-gay-women-world-cup.

16. Caudwell, ‘Glasswing Butterflies’.

17. See Caudwell, ‘Does Your Boyfriend Know You’re Here?’; Caudwell, ‘Women’s Experiences of Sexuality Within Football Contexts’; Goellner, ‘Women and Soccer in Brazil: ’; Magrath, Anderson, and Roberts, ‘On the Door-Step of Equality: ’; Mennesson and Clément, ‘Homosociability and Homosexuality’.

18. See Caudwell, ‘Queering the Field?’; Drury, ‘It Seems Really Inclusive in Some Ways’; Jones and McCarthy, ‘Female Fandom’; Willis, ‘Kicking Down Barriers’.

19. Baks and Malecek, Synopsis on Homophobia and Discrimination.

20. Plummer, ‘Sportophobia’.

21. See note 6.

22. Bury, ‘Can a Footballer be Gay?’; Dick, Leagues Behind–Football’s Failure; Zucal, ‘Between “machos” and “putos”’; Jones, ‘Female Fandom’; and Kian et al., ‘Homophobic and Sexist Yet Uncontested’.

23. Almeida and da Silva Soares, ‘Football in the Dock’.

24. Cleland, ‘Discussing Homosexuality on Association’.

25. Cashmore and Cleland, ‘Fans, Homophobia and Masculinities’.

26. See Dick, Leagues Behind–Football’s Failure.

27. Cashmore and Cleland, ‘Glasswing Butterflies Gay Professional Football Players’.

28. Magrath, ‘To Try and Gain an Advantage for My Team’.

29. See Mennesson and Clément, ‘Homosociability and Homosexuality’.

30. Hughson and Free, ‘Football’s “Coming Out”’.

31. See note 13.

32. Biddle et al., ‘Research Methods in Sport’.

33. Third competition level in Spanish Soccer.

34. Piedra, ‘Escala de Actitudes hacia la Diversidad’.

35. Maio and Haddock, The Psychology of Attitudes.

36. Anderson, Magrath, and Bullingham, Out in Sport .

37. Ibid.

38. Ibid.

39. See Piedra, ‘Gays and Lesbians in Sport; Piedra et al., ‘Analysis of Homophobia’; Piedra et al., ‘Between Homohysteria and Inclusivity’.

40. Herek, Contemporary Perspectives.

41. See notes 25 and 27.

42. Cleland, ‘Sexuality, Masculinity and Homophobia’.

43. See Magrath, Anderson and Roberts, ‘On the Door-Step of Equality’; Magrath, ‘Footballing Masculinities’.

44. Jones and McCarthy, ‘Female Fandom’.

45. Penna-Tosso and Sánchez-Sáinz, ‘An Estimate of the Homophobic’.

46. See Bury, ‘Can a Footballer be Gay?’; and Eng, ‘Queer Athletes’.

47. Skelton, ‘A Passion for Football’.

48. See Roper and Halloran, ‘Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbians’.

49. See Ensign et al., ‘Athletic Trainers’ Attitudes’.

50. See note 36.

51. Anderson, Inclusive Masculinity; Anderson, ‘The Rise and Fall of Western Homohysteria’.

52. See note 14.

53. See Willis, ‘Kicking Down Barriers’.