Behavioral Ecology Blog

The quote:

A study of former high-school American Football players has found that more
than a third said they had had sexual relations with other men.

In his study of homosexuality among sportsmen in the US, sociologist Dr
Eric Anderson found that 19 in a sample of 47 had taken part in acts intended to
sexually arouse other men, ranging from kissing to mutual masturbation and oral
sex.

The 47 men, aged 18-23, were all American Football players who previously
played at the high school (secondary school) level but had failed to be picked
for their university’s team and were now cheerleaders instead. They were at
various universities from the American south, Mid-West, west and north
west.

Not to contribute to the stereotype, but there is no big surprise here…

What is irritating is that this is another example of a researcher conducting research that somehow justifies his/her own personal choices of lifestyle. Dr Eric Anderson says:

“The evidence supports my assertion that homophobia is on the rapid decline
among male teamsport athletes in North America at all levels of play,” he writes
in his study, entitled ‘Being masculine is not about whom you sleep
with…Heterosexual athletes contesting masculinity and the one-time rule of
homosexuality’.

Oh, and by the way, Dr Anderson was the first openly gay male high school sports coach in the US. He left coaching after one of his students was assaulted because it was assumed that he was gay.

If he is trying to make the point that homophobia in team sports in on the decline, then one MAJOR criticism is his sampling. Using former football players that are now cheerleaders (which is often seen as a feminine activity) likely severely biased his results.. Of course- he denies this possibility…

Those he interviewed were selected to represent men that considered
themselves traditionally masculine, typical American Football players.

… and he just happened to find all the current cheerleaders?? Gimme a break!