Sporting Events: Prevalent Misogyny Among Male Spectators, Yet Emerging Progressive Male Identities
In a groundbreaking study led by Durham University, in collaboration with the University of Leicester and the University of South Australia, the attitudes of 1,950 male football fans from across the UK towards women's football were explored. The research was conducted between September 2015 and January 2016, and the findings provide valuable insights into the current landscape of women's sport in the UK.
The study identified three distinct groups of men: progressive, openly misogynistic, and covertly misogynistic. The progressive group, accounting for 24% of respondents, expressed more gender-equal attitudes and believed that the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup marked a positive turning point in the representation of women's sport. They connected increased exposure of women's sport with a perceived genuine change in men's attitudes and a subsequent rise in the popularity of women's sport.
On the other hand, the most dominant group, at 68% of respondents, was the overtly misogynistic group. These men expressed beliefs grounded in essentialist reasoning, maintaining assumptions of men's physical superiority. They thought women have no place in sport and described women's football as "not as dynamic, quick, skilful", "slower and weaker" and "less competitive" than men's football. The smallest group, at 8% of respondents, was the covertly misogynistic group. These men could discuss women's involvement in sport in positive ways, but still thought women's sport inferior.
The study found that among football fans, men with openly misogynistic attitudes are still in the majority. However, it also revealed that media coverage of women's sport had altered some men's perceptions. For instance, a Bury fan stated that watching the Women's World Cup changed his view on the sport, making him feel the opposite of what he used to think.
The findings of this study underscore several key points regarding the attitudes of UK sports fans towards women's football. Firstly, there is a growing demand for more coverage of women's sports, with this demand being more pronounced by age than gender. For example, 75% of Gen Z fans want expanded coverage, indicating a generational shift in attitudes towards women's sports.
Secondly, women participating in traditionally male-dominated sports face resistance and online abuse, which is less common in sports associated with femininity. This highlights the ongoing challenges women athletes face in gaining acceptance and respect in sports traditionally seen as masculine.
Lastly, UK sports organizations are beginning to address the issue of social media abuse against female athletes by implementing policies and strategies to combat online harassment.
While there isn't a specific study mentioned in the search results that directly addresses men's attitudes towards women's football in the UK during the new age of media attention, the broader context suggests that there is increasing support and demand for women's sports. However, traditional gender stereotypes and social media abuse remain significant challenges.
For a more comprehensive understanding, studies like the one on the AFLW in Australia highlight how gender biases influence perceptions of women's sports, which could offer insights applicable to the UK context. These biases are crucial in shaping consumer engagement and media representation.
In the UK, the fan engagement report for the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) shows growing fan interest and engagement, with positive attitudes towards the sport being important for fan retention. This suggests that focusing on fan engagement and positive experiences could help foster more supportive attitudes towards women's football.
In conclusion, the study provides a valuable snapshot of the attitudes of UK football fans towards women's football. While there is still a significant presence of traditional gender stereotypes and misogynistic attitudes, there is also evidence of a growing demand for and support of women's sports. Organisations continue to face pressure to address gender inequalities, and the model of masculinities from this study may be helpful as a tool for studying other settings to tackle broader societal misogyny.
