Newsroom

CSUN Lecture to Explore the Gender Divisions that Still Exist in Sports

The number of girls playing sports has exploded in the more than 30 years since Title IX was enacted. But gender divisions still exist on the sidelines as men dominate the coaching positions while “team parents” are comprised mostly of women.

University of Southern California sociologist and gender specialist Michael Messner will explore these gender divisions during a presentation, “It’s All for the Kids: Gender, Families and Youth Sports,” at Cal State Northridge on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. in the university’s Little Theatre on the southwest corner of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

“His topic should be of interest to many as it touches on activities that are the cornerstone of so many families’ lives. His research reveals how these activities in many ways influence and affect individual understanding of gender relations as children grow up,” said CSUN assistant professor of sociology Alex Bierman, who is helping coordinate Messner’s visit.

Messner has spent the past seven years researching the shift in gender relations and tensions that have accompanied increased participation of girls and women in sports.

“I look at persistent gender divisions of labor among parent volunteers, and ask how is it that most youth sports coaches are men while most of the ‘team parents’ are women,” Messner said. “I will discuss how these gender divisions of labor among adults mesh with the persistent tensions in families and work places, and how they impact children as they shape their ideas about gender and begin to imagine their future work and family lives.”

Messner is a professor of sociology and gender studies at the University of Southern California. He is a widely respected authority in the area of gender studies, particularly men’s studies. He has published extensively on the role gender plays in defining a person’s place in society.

His talk later this month is based on his latest book, “It’s All for the Kids: Gender, Families and Youth Sports.” The book and his talk are based on a seven-year community study of youth soccer, baseball and softball leagues and the gender divisions that exist in those environments.

The lecture is free and open to the public. For more
information about Messner’s presentation, call Bierman at (818) 677-7198.