Chapter 40, page 440 Body image and Gender stereotypes

Often sports are labelled as being unfeminine or un-masculine This means that certain sports are perceived as being more suitable for a particular sex. Over time people have developed stereotypical characteristics for both males and females.

Athletes labelled as masculine or feminine depending on their body image, which is reinforced by the perceived ideal stereotype of the community Masculine attributes are aggression, competitiveness, athletic skill and muscle bulk Feminine attributes are flexibility, dainty, slim, passive, less skilled. So when a male or female deviates from the norm, they are labelled macho/lesbian/butch/queer/etc depending on the perceived image established by the culture/community.

Stereotypical views of gymnastics Stereotypes associated with the different events within gymnastics Woman events involve flexibility, balance and grace (floor/beam) Male events involve immense upper body strength and core strength (rings/horse)

TASK Read page 440 1)state, define and explain body image and gender stereotypes 2)examples focussing on gymnastics 3)re-iterate your position from a personal perspective ***NOTE*** Remember to personalise where possible steer your argument towards gymnastics