Locker Room Talk
This phrase, often used in locker rooms, implies that emotion or vulnerability makes a man weak.
Man up.
When an athlete comes out as gay, sports media often focus on this aspect instead of their athletic performance.
Their sexuality or “personal life.”
Hypermasculinity in sports often emphasizes this physical trait as proof of dominance.
Strength or aggression.
This MLB player was one of the first to come out publicly after retiring, paving the way for others.
Glenn Burke.
Many male athletes fear losing this if they come out, even though it’s rarely true in practice.
Team acceptance or locker room camaraderie.
In many male sports environments, homophobic language is dismissed as this kind of “humor."
“Locker room banter” or “just jokes.”
This NBA player made headlines in 2013 as the first active male athlete in a major U.S. sport to come out publicly.
Jason Collins.
This football culture concept celebrates toughness, violence, and stoicism—key traits of hypermasculinity.
“Warrior mentality.”
This NFL player was the first openly gay man drafted by a team in 2014.
Michael Sam.
This career factor—where athletes depend on image deals and sponsorships—often discourages them from coming out publicly.
Endorsement contracts or brand marketability.
Studies show male athletes often avoid seeking help for injuries or mental health because of this cultural expectation.
Fear of being perceived as weak.
This concept refers to how news outlets select and highlight certain aspects of stories to shape public perception.
Framing.
The phrase “playing like a girl” reinforces this type of stereotype.
Gender stereotype that femininity = weakness.
This global event included Pride House for LGBTQ+ athletes for the first time in 2010.
The Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Some closeted athletes report using this coping strategy to “prove” masculinity and deflect suspicion.
Overperforming hypermasculinity (e.g., aggression, womanizing, silence).
This social concept describes how men police each other’s masculinity to maintain dominance.
Hegemonic masculinity.
Media often frame gay athletes as “brave” or “heroic,” which unintentionally reinforces what stereotype?
That being gay in sports is abnormal or dangerous.
This word is often used as an insult to men who show emotion on the field.
Soft.
This organization’s slogan, “If you can play, you can play,” promotes inclusion in sports.
You Can Play Project.
According to sports psychologists, the main mental barrier to coming out in male-dominated sports is fear of this social consequence.
Fear of isolation or rejection by teammates/coaches.
True or False: Studies show that openly gay athletes report more homophobic language use in locker rooms than closeted ones.
True. They’re more aware and targeted.
Which British Olympic diver used his YouTube platform to normalize LGBTQ+ representation in sports media?
Tom Daley.
Which sport has historically been seen as the “ultimate test” of manhood due to its violence and physical risk?
American football.
Which pro sports “Pride Nights” began as grassroots LGBTQ+ fan initiatives before being adopted league-wide?
NHL.
In media and cultural terms, the idea that “real men don’t talk about sexuality” stems from this broader system that rewards dominance and punishes vulnerability.
Patriarchal masculinity or hegemonic masculinity.