Hegemonic Masculinity and the Ideal Male Hockey Player: the Constructions of NHL Injuries in Popular Canadian Newspapers, 2016-2017
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Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 3-13-2020 2:00 PM Hegemonic Masculinity and the Ideal Male Hockey Player: The Constructions of NHL Injuries in Popular Canadian Newspapers, 2016-2017 Rachelle Miele The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Davies, Lorraine The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Sociology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Doctor of Philosophy © Rachelle Miele 2020 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Gender and Sexuality Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation Miele, Rachelle, "Hegemonic Masculinity and the Ideal Male Hockey Player: The Constructions of NHL Injuries in Popular Canadian Newspapers, 2016-2017" (2020). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 6884. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/6884 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Abstract This study critically examines the constructions of men’s hockey injuries in five popular Canadian newspapers published during the 2016-2017 NHL season. I draw on feminist theory and social constructionism and conduct a critical discourse analysis of 199 newspaper articles to examine media narratives, understand taken-for-granted assumptions about men’s hockey injuries and masculinities, and capture the role of language in producing, reproducing, and challenging hegemonic masculinity. I argue that the injury discourse, which constructs men’s injuries, the body, and male hockey players, is rooted in hegemonic masculinity. Specifically, I find that these discursive constructions include: the normalization of injuries as part of the game; injuries as a threat to player success; bodies are for the team; the injured body as an assemblage of parts; the commodified, durable, aged, and replaceable injured body; playing hurt as respectable; health as the responsibility of male hockey players; and the construction of the triumphant return. I conclude and argue that the injury discourse is less about injuries, health, or well-being, and more about validating and recreating hegemonic masculinity. As a discursive site and through injury talk, I find that within these popular newspapers, the ideal male hockey player is produced – one who plays hurt and hides injuries, sacrifices their body, and puts themselves in danger for their team. The ideal male hockey player operates like a machine; he is durable, young, takes care of his health, and when injured, returns unharmed to redeem himself. I show that a particular way of being a man is rewarded through encouragement and admiration. And any actions that do not conform to the ideal male hockey player are discouraged and labelled as unmanly. I do find evidence that the injury discourse is beginning to challenge hegemonic masculinity; I refer to this as ‘the humanized injury’ where emotions, thoughts, and experiences of injured players are validated and thus challenge and contest hegemonic masculinity. Overall, I conclude that the injury discourse reinforces sport as a gendered and gendering institution and reproduces dominant masculine health practices which have implications for men’s health generally. In making visible the ways that injuries are constructed, I open the possibility for parents, hockey coaches, league officials, and sport writers to offer alternative messages. Without alternative messages, harmful health practices will continue to be understood as the only legitimate and acceptable view of health in men’s hockey. ii Keywords Sport Injuries, Hegemonic Masculinity, Sports Media, Men’s Ice Hockey, National Hockey League (NHL), Discourse Analysis, Feminist Theory, Social Constructionism iii Summary for Lay Audience This study examines how men’s hockey injuries are described in five popular Canadian newspaper published during the 2016-2017 NHL season. I analyze 199 newspaper articles to understand how sports media discusses, presents, and talks about men’s hockey injuries. The goal of this study was to understand media messages regarding men’s hockey injuries and to understand how these messages produce or challenge dominant ideals of masculinity. I argue that men’s hockey injuries are constructed in relation to masculinity. I find that the portrayal of men’s hockey injuries includes discussions of injuries, the injured body, and male hockey players. I found several depictions of injuries, which I categorized as: injuries as simply part of the game; injuries as a threat to player success; bodies are for the team; the injured body as an assemblage of parts; the economic, durable, aged, and replaceable injured body; playing hurt as respectable; health as the responsibility of male hockey players; and the construction of the triumphant return. This media portrayal of men’s hockey injuries, rewards, encourages, and admires particular ways of being a man, and deems as unmanly behaviours, beliefs, and actions outside of this. By exploring the constructions of injuries, parents, hockey coaches, league officials, and sport writers can work to offer alternative messages. Without alternative messages, harmful health practices in men’s hockey will continue to be understood as legitimate and acceptable. iv Dedication For Carmen, to the moon. v Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues, family members, and friends that have inspired, motivated, and supported me during this project. First, I would like to thank the members of my thesis committee, Drs. Lorraine Davies, Jessica Polzer, and Andrea Willson. Thank you for your invaluable insight, close readings, and thoughtful questions. Your encouragement and masterful guidance pushed me and my research to be more thoughtful and critical. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Lorraine Davies for her commitment and support of this study and my development as a scholar. Thank you for your kindness, encouragement, and for sharing your unparalleled knowledge. The completion of my dissertation would not have been possible without your support and your profound belief in my work and abilities. Many thanks to my friends and colleagues in the Department of Sociology. Your unwavering support and humour helped me through my research. Thank you for challenging me intellectually and for your willingness to talk through ideas. I am grateful for the friendship of Syna Thakur, Samantha Skinner, and Jennifer Elgie. I am forever thankful for the love and encouragement of my family and friends. Thank you, mom, for instilling my love of learning and always encouraging me to ask questions. To my brothers Daniel and Adrian; thank you for all our conversations about my research and for reminiscing about our time at the rink. And to my niece Carmen, thank you for being my light, for making me laugh, and slowing me down. Your sense of wonder inspires me every day. To my hockey family; thank you for inspiring this research. I am grateful for all the time we spent together and the many memories we made. Finally, thank you to the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program for their generous support of this study. vi Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Summary for Lay Audience ............................................................................................... iv Dedication ........................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ vi Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... xii List of Appendices ........................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1 ............................................................................................................................. 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Chapter Overview ................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................. 7 2 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Gender, Sport, and the Social Construction of Masculinities ................................. 7 2.1.1 Feminism, Gender, and Sport ........................................................................... 9 2.1.2 Masculinities, Feminism, and Sport................................................................ 16 2.2 Hegemonic Masculinity and the Gender Order .................................................... 18 2.2.1 Gender and Power ........................................................................................... 18