Masculinity, Sports, and the Complexities of “The Patriarchy”

For this first blog entry, I want us to collectively apply some of the ideas in María Lugones’s piece, “Heterosexualism and the Colonial/Modern Gender System” to two different but related events that occurred in sports this week in the States. They both draw to the fore of the debate the ways in which gender, race, capitalism, nation, and “the patriarchy” (What do we mean by this term? It is a moving target…) become visible in our popular media, both in purposeful and spontaneous ways.

The first example that I am thinking about is the controversy around Colin Kaepernick and “his” new Nike ad. You might have to fill yourselves in by doing a bit of background reading, but suffice it to say that Kaepernick has been the topic of a lot of debate in and beyond the NFL and drawn the attention of the public (including the President) throughout the past two years. On the one hand, Kaepernick’s refusal to stand during the national anthem was a stand against racism and what some might construe as “hegemonic patriarchy,” as in, the flag stands for exclusions as much as inclusion, at least from some perspectives. Now, however, with a Nike ad, Kaepernik, some claim, is “cashing in,” and using the capitalist system to his benefit — something that Quijano might say is being complicit with the coloniality of power, to a degree. The ad, as well as the issues beyond it, is complex as are the reactions to it. What do you think? Be sure to reference concepts discussed in class.

Second, there has been much discussion about the Serena Williams vs. Naomi Osaka match; specifically, the calls that chair umpire Carlos Ramos made about Williams’s behavior on the court. You can find plenty of reports out there on what happened. Williams has claimed unfair and biased treatment; Ramos explained today that he stands by his calls and has received “plenty of support.”

SO, please reflect on one of these cases and the ways that it draws the complexities of the dynamics between race, gender, and power to the fore of our attention. You might think about the issues you discuss within the broader frame of sports culture, whether American football or tennis. (~500 words, by Thursday 9/13 @11:59pm).