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How To Write A Letter To Male Synchronized Swimming Essay

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Date: 20/10/14
FINA
Addition of Category for Male Synchronized Swimmers fina@gmail.com.au To whom it may concern,
As a Honorary Secretary of the organisation, Synchro. Australia, I think it is in my best interests that I write a letter to you (FINA) in hope that you add talented and graceful male synchronized swimmers to accompany the female swimmers at the Olympic level. Concepts like hegemonic masculinity, gender stereotypes, and the studies of Figueroa’s Framework have provided an understanding into why there are negative references associated with synchronised swimming particularly male swimmers; and will be discussed in the letter.

The main reason this letter is being written is because we want FINA to add one more category to the …show more content…

For example, over the many years of Australian sporting, sports like synchronised swimming have been marginalised while the culture has directed to high performance levels in sports such-as rugby league and AFL. This can greatly affect on people who are trying to participate female dominated sport or male dominated sport, for example male Synchro swimmers are trying equally as the females are but since synchronised swimming is a female dominated sport males are contemplating between joining or not because they are afraid on how the society is going to respond or behave. Cultural level in Figueroa’s Framework fundamentally contains: cultural identity, ethnic background, socialisation, and social construction of gender stereotypes, and hegemonic …show more content…

In the socialisation of young boys, sport is seen as a way to develop power, leadership and control. These mixed qualities together have been labeled ‘hegemonic masculinity’. This supresses the value of emotion and holds a high positive value on physical activity. Competing in a ‘typically’ feminine sport such as synchronised swimming, dance or even netball can be seen as lowering someone’s hegemonic masculinity, or effectively losing their ‘manhood’. Thus, when a male sticks to a ‘typically’ masculine such as Australian Rules football or Rugby League, they are seen as preserving their hegemonic masculinity. I think that if the male synchronised swimmers get a chance to represent their country at Olympic level the cultural attitudes and beliefs of the sport will change and convince more males to participate in this stylish, yet very challenging

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