Anti-jock movement

The anti-jock movement is a loosely organized cyber-movement consisting of similarly themed websites, whose goal is to challenge the perceived cultural dominance of institutionalized competitive sports and to raise issues of the perceived detrimental effects of such a dominance. In this regard, the term "jock" is used in its sense of "stereotypical athlete," although websites constituent of the Anti-jock Movement often use the term to distinguish negative or excessive interest in sports, from common or positive athletic endeavor. In the decade following the year 2000, increasing recognition has been given to the existence of a movement consisting of "a group of self‐described marginalized youth [who] constructed and sustained anti‐jock websites, where they articulated 'dissatisfaction with and anger toward institutions that uncritically adulate hyper‐masculine/high contact sport culture and the athletes who are part of this culture (i.e., the ‘jocks’)'” [1] Such has been cited as an act of resistance against the dominant media and cultural paradigm.[1]

Recognition

One of the most cited articles giving recognition to the existence of an anti-jock cyber movement is a 2002 article published by Brian Wilson (an assistant professor of Cultural Studies and Sociology, University of British Columbia) in the Sociology of Sport Journal, titled "The 'Anti-Jock' Movement: Reconsidering Youth Resistance, Masculinity and Sport Culture in the Age of the Internet".[2] In the course of the article, Wilson described the movement as follows:

The anti-jock movement is group of self-described "marginalized youth" who, through the production and consumption of anti-jock Websites, express dissatisfaction with and anger toward institutions that uncritically adulate hyper-masculine/high-contact sport culture and the athletes who are part of this culture (i.e. the "jocks"). Through these Websites, strategies of resistance against the "pro-jock" establishment are offered.

After analyzing the content of various "Anti-Jock" websites, Wilson concluded that

In one sense, the anti-jock Websites can be viewed, together, as a new social movement according to Harvey and Houle's definition. That is to say, they are not linked to specific economic interests, they are working toward change in society's (pro-jock) values, and (arguably), anti-jocks are working toward a better society where males and females are nor subject to the domination of the interests of a masculinist sport culture and jocks.

Since its 2002 publication, Wilson's article has been often cited with reference to the existence of the Anti-Jock Movement.[3]

Constituent websites

Professor Brian Wilson, in his article "The 'Anti-Jock' Movement: Reconsidering Youth Resistance, Masculinity and Sport Culture in the Age of the Internet",[2] detailed two basic types of websites which are common within the Anti-Jock cyber movement.

First, webzines devoted to opposition of the jock culture. These sites often include suggestions for activism and action against the "jock establishment." Professor Wilson, referred specifically to two such sites: Spoilsports, and the now defunct High School Underground. There are however, other such sites, such as the International I Hate Sports Club, which have similar objectives and content.

Second, there are personal websites, consisting of personal rants criticizing the "jock establishment," "personal interest" websites which include personal concerns which include criticism about "jock culture," and third, personal sites that devote themselves exclusively to anti-jock statements.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Stack, M., & Kelly, D. M. (2006). "The Popular Media, Education, and Resistance". Canadian Journal of Education, 29(1), 5-26.
  2. 1 2 3 Wilson, Brian. (2002). "The 'Anti-Jock' Movement: Reconsidering Youth Resistance, Masculinity and Sport Culture in the Age of the Internet". Sociology of Sport Journal, 19(2), 207-234.
  3. ↑ See, for example, Deviance and Social Control in Sport by Michael Atkinson, Kevin Young; Human Kinetics Publishers, 2008. See also, Sport in a Changing World by Howard L. Nixon, Paradigm Publishers, 2007.
  • James L. Shulman & William G. Bowen. (2007) The Game of Life: College Sports and Educational Values

External links

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