GENDER, CLASS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASCULINITY IN PROFESSIONAL SAILING

Abstract

Although the America's Cup, sailing's most prestigious international race, is nearly 150 years old, it was not until 1995 that the first women competed in it. Using feminist theory, it is suggested that female athletes have been barred from competition because sport has been constructed on the basis of men's rather than women's physical abilities. In particular, the unnecessary structuring of the crew position of grinder to emphasize upper-body strength has largely excluded women from a sport that does not inherently favor either men's or women's bodies. It is argued that sailing has been used as a site for demonstrating masculinity among sailing's upper- and middle-class, male participants. As such, the participation of women in sailing challenges perceptions of the `natural superiority' of male athletes and calls into question both the masculinity of male sailors and sailing itself.

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