The reproduction of hegemonic masculinity in football fandom: An analysis of the performance of polish ultras

Abstract

Although one can observe the increasing acceptance for different forms of masculinities and the decreasing discrimination towards homosexuals, the football stadiums in Poland remains the place where the hegemonic masculinity (Connell, Gender and Power. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1987) and the homosocial bonds (Lipman-Blumen, Toward a homosocial theory of sex roles: An explanation of the sex segregation of social institutions, Signs, 1, 15-31, 1976; Sedgwick, Between men: English literature and male homosocial desire. New York: Columbia University Press, 1985) are reproduced. The traditional masculinity on the stadiums is reproduced by the fans' songs, abuses and pictures presented on the tifo displays. The chapter will be focused on the visual representation of homosocial bonds presented by Polish ultras football fans during the league matches. The conducted preanalysis has revealed that the images on the banners prepared by the fans refer to sexual intercourse and others sexual practices in which the opponent and its supporters are presented in subordinated, 'feminine' or 'homosexual' roles. Therefore, on the one hand we want to present the visual tools of masculine hierarchy's reproduction, on the other hand, we want to explain why Polish fans, contrary to the Western society's fans, are less favourable to different forms of masculinities. Due to these dimensions of our analysis, we hope to provide some new insight into the studies of masculinity and sport.