Homophobic Discourse Surrounding the Female Athlete

Abstract

Despite culturnl evidence of the increasing tolerance and acceptance of gays and lesbians, American society remains rooted in anti-gay prejudice. Sport, arguably our most pervasive cultural practice, is no exception. The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical consideration of the construction and operalion of homophobic discourse surrounding the female athlete. By employing Foucauldian notions of discipline and discourse, as well as feminist critiques of the gendered body, I depict the female athlete as non-conformist to the discipline of femininity. Homophobic discourse. I argue, exists in response to this non-conformity and functions to both objectify and suhjeclify the sporting woman. 1 contend that we can diminish the power of this oppressive discourse by interrogating the social constmetion of homophobia and utilizing that knowledge in order to institutionalize counter-discourses orsexuality and female athletic participation in laws, policies, curricula. and political propaganda.

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