21st Century Jocks: Sporting Men and Contemporary Heterosexuality

From macho huddles to gentle cuddles, the ways in which sportsmen relate as friends has radically changed. With homophobia stigmatized and gay teammates revered, today's jocks no longer fear being thought gay for behaviors that constrained men of the previous generation. In this eye-opening book, Professor Eric Anderson draws on hundreds of interviews with 15-22 year old straight and gay male athletes in both the United States and the United Kingdom to show how jocks have redefined heterosexuality: kissing on the lips, dancing together, cuddling in bed, and proudly proclaiming their bromance with other men.

Eric Anderson is Professor of Sport Studies at the University of Winchester, UK and an academician of the British Academy of Social Sciences. His previous publications include The Monogamy Gap and Inclusive Masculinity.

Introduction

PART I: 20TH CENTURY JOCKS

1. Birth of the Jock

2. Homohysteria

PART II: 21ST CENTURY JOCKS AND INCLUSIVITY

3. Including Gay Teammates

4. Changing Homophobic Language

5. Recognizing Bisexuality

PART III: 21ST CENTURY JOCKS AND INTIMACY

6. Loving other Men

7. Kissing other Men

8. Freaking other Men

9. Cuddling and Spooning other Men

PART IV: 21ST CENTURY JOCKS AND SEX

10. Cheating on Girlfriends

11. Sex with other Men

Conclusions