Critical Reading Response: Gender and Sexuality in Sport and Health

This assignment critically examines the intersection of gender and sexuality within the realms of sport and health, drawing upon key articles by Sapolsky (1997) and Lorber (1993). The student explores the societal stereotypes and discrimination, particularly how gender differences are exacerbated within the sporting context and the healthcare sector. The assignment analyzes the biological and societal factors contributing to gender inequality, including the influence of testosterone and power dynamics. It reflects on the impact of gender assignment in both scientific research and professional practices, such as nursing and sports. The student highlights the historical context of gender stereotypes and their implications on women's opportunities and societal roles. The assignment concludes by emphasizing the need to address prejudices and stigmas related to gender and physical ability in these fields.

Running head: GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
Sport is an indifferent medium that carries the social and mental stereotypes and is a
primary reason for exacerbation of gender differences in the society. With time the direct
message of discrimination has been faded, however the discrimination is still there and the
message has become hidden, nonverbal and less effective. The similar discrimination has been
seen in the health sector where, women are being generalized for as specific position due to their
association with the specific position. In this context, it has been seen that people get such gender
specific education from their parents and there is a difference that lies between educating a son
and a daughter. In This assignment, I will discuss two articles provided by Sapolsky (1997) and
Lorber (1993) respectively and will reflect upon both these readings so that the implication of
these theories in recent society can be determined.
The first artricle included in the discussion was published in the Discover magazine and
the article was able to raise the topic of gender discrimination under the title ‘testosterone rules’
(Sapolsky,1997). The author of this article mentioned that discriminations and prejudices against
minorities are baseless and people have started removing such prejudices from the society
however, there are instances when they have to face such issues related to violence or social or
racial discrimination by some social majority. However, as per my thinking, the primary reason
behind this is the preferences which are provided by the society to the male gender compared to
the females of the society. As the author mentioned a fact that male gender is less than the 50%
in the world society however, they commit crimes more than their ability in the society
(Sapolsky, 1997). Here I feel that the author wants to blame the testosterone or the primal male
hormone for such discrimination in the society. There are several biological difference between a
male body and a female body that provides them agitation and aggression as compared to the
other gender of the society and hence, it creates a physical paradigm shift in the society.

2GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
Therefore, as per my critical thinking, to create an ideologically compatible and equal society
with equal opportunity for everyone in the society, the author used this metaphors in the reading
to provide a clear idea for the current situation of the society. However, I feel that for this
discrimination, besides the male hormone, society and the power holders are responsible for the
situation. The author also mentioned in the article that discrimination and the role of power
distributers and power holders in the society as well as their role in spreading these
discriminations. Hence, I believe to make the people aware of the testosterone and associated
power distribution in the society as well as requirement of the power distributors to make those
men aware of the importance and ability of the females in the society, the authors used such
examples and incidents in the assignment. As per my critical thinking, it is the only way to
modify the phrase, ‘boys will be boys’ and modify it proving that boys can also be polite and
humble. Further they are provided with proper informations about their limitations and the
consequences of crossing those limitations in the society.
The other article which I included for the discussion is by Lorber (1993) mentions the
thinking of modern human physicality and compares it to that of the primitive western
physicality where people used to think that there is only one sex living on the earth and males
genitalia is the opposite to that of the female genitalia. However, I think, despite the fact that
several researches have been conducted to determine the physical differences between male and
female body, maximum of it has validated the gender inequality depending on the physical
ability or strength related differences between male and female body. I was able to search for
very less research papers that were focused on the actual hormonal difference between a male
and female body, rest of all these concerned about the strength, ability, spiritual and many other
thoughts to explain the topic. I think it is the matter of gender assignment in the research article

3GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
as healthcare physicians used to determine the gender of the fetus depending on the size of their
genital or presence or absence of vagina. However, in modern context, such gender assignment is
not dependent of these concepts but rather depends on the requirement of the body in different
endeavors such as in sport or any other profession where the person may require strength and
physical ability to be successful (Lorber, 1993). In this context, the author mentioned the
International Amateur Athlete federation was mentioned which confirms the inspection of
genital to determine the gender of the person. However, as per my critical thinking, it also
provided a chance to the transsexual people by providing them opportunity play as a women in
tennis or other sports despite having a male hormonal abilities. In this context it should be
mentioned that such discriminations affected women more than men as men has the ability to
visualize a situation differently and changing the picture to their favor but female are unable to
do that therefore, they had to racial and social discrimination affecting their ability and their
position in the society. I believe the mention of such stereotype in the nursing profession as the
profession of women in the health sector, because of the long association of this specific gender
with the profession. Hence, despite of having the ability or caliber, the nursing professionals are
always assigned with work which hampers their physical and mental ability and affects their self-
esteemed in their professional life.
Hence, while concluding I should mention that discrimination depending on gender or
physical ability is the reason of such prejudices and stigma in society that determines the ability
or generalizes people depending on one genital or presence of a specific hormone. Sport and
healthcare are among such professions in which this discrimination is deeply seeded and has a
long history of inequality or false distribution. In this assignment, I discussed two articles by

4GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
Sapolsky(1997) and Lorber (1993) respectively, so that with the support of recent literatures and
articles, tried to put on the reality of the society.

5GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN SPORT AND HEALTH
References
Lorber, J. (1993). Believing is seeing: Biology as ideology. Gender & Society, 7(4), 568-581.
Sapolsky, R. (1997). Testosterone Rules | DiscoverMagazine.com. Retrieved from
http://discovermagazine.com/1997/mar/testosteronerule1077