Views On Vassar | Stereotyping of male athletes as jocks unwarranted

Tendai Musakwa Opinions Editor

Sports and masculinity are virtually synonymous in American culture. In his book, Jock: Sports & Male Identity, Donald Sabo contends that athleticism has influenced the male psyche in profound ways, helping to create the male-dominated, success-oriented and status-seeking society that is the United States today. In addition, it has created jocks, often regarded as egotistical, unintelligent male athletes who typically are womanizers. Parts of America consider jocks contemptuously, an aversion that they now apply to all male athletes, regardless of whether they are the arrogant, dull male athletes that the term “jock” implies or are instead intelligent, unassuming people who just happen to enjoy sports. This disdain of athletes has also permeated Vassar, creating an atmosphere in which some members of the community look down on male athletes. This is a deplorable situation that must be addressed. Considering that we are a college that aims to foster open-mindedness and a respect for difference, it is imperative that we depart from stereotyping male athletes as jocks.

A considerable number of students at Vassar hold the unwarranted view that male athletes in particular teams are jocks. Baseball player Alex Tanskey ’08 said, “There is resentment from Vassar kids for male athletes.” This antagonism is not the result of personal interactions with these athletes, but rather stems from a generic animosity towards males involved in certain sports. Hensleigh Crowell ’10, a non-athlete, suggests that this animosity may result from the numerous cliques of male athletes that can be found at the College. These athletic cliques are conspicuous because some Vassar sportsmen wear their uniforms almost everywhere and sit together at the same tables in the All College Dining Center. Furthermore, following American jock stereotypes, these groups of athletes engage in locker-room lingo and are often loud and boisterous. However, is it fair to characterize a person as a jock simply from their dress and interactions with others in the school’s dining hall?

A look at athletics in our society reveals some interesting clues as to why some Vassar students would despise sportsmen. Sports in contemporary America are exceptionally sexist. Female athletes are often under-appreciated or sidelined. Male athletes, on the other hand, dominate the sports industry. This male supremacy in athletics has reached such proportions as to be regarded as the clearest indicator of male dominance and sexism in the United States.

Take the Superbowl, for example. On that day, America suspends all activity to watch behemoths, supported by buxom cheerleaders in skimpy outfits, compete in a pseudomilitaristic struggle for control of the football field. This event symbolizes our male-centered society in which women are expected to play a subservient role. Many liberal arts students, Vassarions included, believe in the need to secure equal rights and opportunities for all individuals. They would thus find such male-oriented athleticism detestable.

This intense dislike, however, carries into our own institutions and is expressed in a disinclination towards male athletes. However, the College’s athletic department, unlike other sports organizations, is not in any way sexist; it does not demean or sideline female athletes.

This is not to say that there are no “jocks” (in the misogynist, egotistical athlete sense of the word) at Vassar. Lindsey Schwoeri ’07 noted, “There are definitely jocks at Vassar. There are certain athletes [at the College] who treat men and women differently.” Caitlin Ly ’10, who is on the volleyball, squash and rowing teams, concurred and furthermore characterized these individuals to be “big, muscular and athletically talented individuals who are somewhat unintelligent. Some members of the [men’s] lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams come to mind.” The people mentioned above have had interactions with the male athletes they refer to as “jocks,” and have reached their own conclusions about them. This column does not presume that there are no “jocks” at Vassar; perhaps there are male athletes in the College who fit the definition of a jock. Rather, it suggests that we not judge individuals on the virtue of their athleticism, but rather on their particular characteristics as distinct human beings. Vassar athletes should not be judged as egotistical, sexist or arrogant because male sports frequently produce athletes with those characteristics.

A comprehensive solution to the unfair representation of male athletes would be for Vassar students to stop stereotyping individuals. As didactic and simplistic as that may sound, such an approach would be a solution to the many conflicts regarding discrimination that frequently arise in the College. Students of color, minorities, the white majority, international students and many other groups on campus complain of discrimination in some form or the other, but more often than not this stems from the stereotyping they receive from other students. Another solution would be for male athletes to socialize more with non-athletes. The same applies to non-athletes, who could do more to interact with athletes. Reaching out to each other in this way may result in new, fulfilling friendships that dispel fictitious assumptions.

All students bring diversity to this College. We should go above stereotyping individuals and instead celebrate the edifying vibrancy that stems from our varied student population.