For many men the importance of sports in their lives, especially football, is a rite of passage that has deep historical roots. These roots have been shaped by various social, cultural and gender norms that have developed over the centuries and continue into the present day. Women may have some difficulty understanding the significance of what they consider “just a game” in a man’s life and this misunderstanding can lead to conflict in a relationship between a man and woman.
Let’s explore the origin of sports and gender roles that will perhaps demonstrate why in general some men show more interest in sports than women.
Ancient Greece (776BCE-323 BCE) Participation and spectatorship in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece was restricted to men. Athletics were closely tied to masculinity and thus women weren’t given any training in sports nor opportunity to compete.
Ancient Rome (753BCE-476 CE) Gladiatorial games and chariot races demonstrated the display of power, strength and valor that at the time were believed to be characteristics that only men could possess. Women could sit in the stadiums and cheer for their favorite man but they could rarely participate. Although there is evidence of the existence of two female gladiators, Amazon and Achillia, their presence was treated as a novelty and spectacle, not as a true competition. In CE 200 Septimius Severus put an end to the participation of all women in gladiatorial games.
Medieval Europe (5th-15th centuries) During the Middle Ages sports took the form of jousting, archery and other tournaments that were tied to combat and military readiness and mostly reserved for knights and the male aristocracy. Women’s roles were in family life and domestic duties that didn’t involve sports.
Renaissance/Early Modern Europe (15th-18th centuries) Women were permitted to enjoy horseback riding and archery to entertain themselves but not for competition. The rise of football(soccer) and cricket in the 17th and 18th centuries focused on male participation and viewership. Physical exertion was considered unladylike for women.
19th Century Many modern sports such as soccer, rugby and baseball were institutionalized with the organization of professional leagues that were mostly men only. Educational institutions for men formed sports teams often excluding women from these opportunities because of the Victorian gender norm that declared that women should be delicate and focused on the home. Sports were considered too rough and competitive for women. By the late 19th century women’s physical education programs emerged, however these programs focused on what was considered appropriate sports for women such as dance, calisthenics and lawn tennis. Women were still excluded from the Olympic Games in 1896.
20th Century The idea that sports were still a mans domain persisted especially because of the rise of male only professional sports leagues like Major League Baseball and the National Football League. The media coverage of heavily televised MLB and NFL games reinforced the belief that established sports as a male pastime. By the Mid-20th century, the tide began to change a bit with the passage of Title IX which required educational institutions to provide equal opportunities for both men and women in sports.
Late 20th Century to Present Day Women’s Sprots Leagues such as the Women’s National Basketball Association was established and women were now competing heavily in the Olympics. However men’s leagues were still receiving more funding, media coverage and sponsorship deals which perpetuates the gap in visibility and interest between men’s and women’s sports.
Conclusion
It’s difficult to expect centuries of social conditioning and cultural norms to be cast aside in an attempt to understand the divide between men and women’s interest in sports. Throughout the ages, men have been persuaded that being a real man meant liking sports. The next time that you attend a high school football game and hear a father insanely shouting at his football receiver son, try to remember that it’s not his fault that he appears deranged, it’s just the way society has conditioned him to act.
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