Hegemony In Sports Analysis

Hegemony and stereotypes play a vital role with women in sports. We can see that years of hegemonic ideas have influenced stereotypes, however, the inscription of the dominant ideals in our heads are slowly being broken down by women, more specifically in the field of sports. Mia Hamm, a well-recognized soccer player, motivates women facing stereotypes. She encourages the need to break free of the hegemonic ideas that are surrounding women in sports by speaking upon the negativity that women dealt with. Women’s ability to pursue their passion have been limited by these stereotypes.

The etymology of hegemony is important in understanding the power it has in the world. Hegemony derives from the Greek word hegemón meaning guide, ruler and leader

The human mind is shaped to categorize beings into subcategories thus creating a larger gap between everyone. The dominant group most benefits from hegemonic ideas for they are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with change. These ideals don’t vanish; they have been imprinted into the minds therefore demanding a large amount of attention. Consequently, giving hegemony the attention or continuing to utilize it will preserve it. As Dick Hebdige had quoted Stuart Hall, “‘Hegemony can only be maintained so long as the dominant classes succeed in framing all competing definitions within their range’” (Hebdige 17). Dominant groups will not be satisfied with the power that is already in their possession. However, they will thrive for more, maintaining these overshadowing ideologies. Those who share similar outlook utilize hegemony the most. The dominant group is then influenced by these ideals to see the negativity in their subordinates for they have different standards. Decisions are then made to “set the limits not only on what is taught but on how it is taught.” (13). Dominant groups make the decisions that they impose on their subordinates, only showing their inferiors the ‘positives’. The United States used “education as a tool to ‘assimilate’ Indian tribes into the mainstream of the ‘American way of life,’ a Protestant ideology of the mid-19th century” (Boarding School 1). The U.S. displayed their ability to change anyone that did not fit their standards. The United States and the West used their power to represent other races in a negative and secondary