Rory Magrath | Southampton Solent University (original) (raw)

Books by Rory Magrath

This Advanced Introduction to the Sociology of Sport highlights the relationship between sport an... more This Advanced Introduction to the Sociology of Sport highlights the relationship between sport and violence, brain injury, social class, sexual minorities, gender, and race. Eric Anderson and Rory Magrath expertly draw on a range of scholarly evidence to outline how these issues intersect with contemporary sports culture.

This book examines the phenomenon of athlete activism across all levels of sport, from elite and ... more This book examines the phenomenon of athlete activism across all levels of sport, from elite and international sport, to collegiate and semi-pro, and asks what this tells us about the relationship between sport and wider society.

With contributions from scholars around the world, the book presents a series of fascinating case studies, including the activism of world-famous athletes such as Serena Williams, Megan Rapinoe and Raheem Sterling. Covering a broad range of sports, from the National Football League (NFL) and Australian Rules, to fencing and the Olympic Games, the book sheds important light on some of the most important themes in the study of sport, including gender, power, racism, intersectionality and the rise of digital media. It also considers the financial impact on athletes when they take a stand and the psychological impact of activism and how that might relate to sports performance.

It has never been the case that ‘sport and politics don’t mix’, and now, more than ever, the opposite is true. This is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the politics or sociology of sport, the politics of protest, social movements or media studies.

Men and Masculinities is a research-informed textbook designed to introduce students to the lives... more Men and Masculinities is a research-informed textbook designed to introduce students to the lives of men and their changing masculinities. This is accomplished by examining primarily the sociological literature into the construction of masculinities, but also the psychological and biological. It is a bold and comprehensive scrutiny of masculinities in ways that other masculinity textbooks are not.

Over the past two decades there has been a rapid transformation of masculinities in the West, lar... more Over the past two decades there has been a rapid transformation of masculinities in the West, largely facilitated by a decline in cultural homophobia. The significant changes in the expression of masculinity, particularly among younger generations of men, have been particularly evident in men’s team sports, which have become an increasingly diverse and inclusive culture. Drawing upon work from a wide range of established and emerging international scholars, this handbook provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis of the contemporary relationship between masculinity and sport. It covers a range of areas including history, media, gender, sexuality, race, violence, and fandom, considering how they impact a range of different sports across the world. Students and scholars across many disciplines will find the unparalleled overview provided by these specially commissioned chapters an invaluable resource.

In recent years, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) athletes have received more media... more In recent years, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) athletes have received more media attention than ever before. Declining levels of homophobia across the Western world has facilitated a greater acceptance of LGBT athletes among heterosexual teammates, fans, and the sports media. Consequently, academic interest in sport, gender and sexuality has also increased substantially. This edited collection combines studies of gender and sexuality with that of the sports media to provide the first-ever comprehensive academic overview of LGBT athletes in the sports media. It draws upon work from a wide range of international scholars to provide an interdisciplinary analysis of improved media coverage of LGBT athletes, as well as the numerous issues and barriers which continue to exist.

Football has traditionally been an institution hostile toward sexual minorities. Boys and men in ... more Football has traditionally been an institution hostile toward sexual minorities. Boys and men in the sport have deployed high levels of homophobia for multiple reasons. However, the ground-breaking research within this book shows that intolerant attitudes toward gay men are increasingly being challenged. Based on unprecedented access to Premier League academies, Inclusive Masculinities in Contemporary Football: Men in the Beautiful Game explores these changing attitudes toward homophobia in football today.

Revealing a range of masculine identities never before empirically measured at this level of football, this book also discusses the implications for the complex and enclosed structures of professional sport, and extends our understanding of contemporary masculinity. It also offers fresh insights to the importance of “banter” in the development of relationships and identities. This culture of banter often plays a paradoxical role, both facilitating and disrupting friendships formed between male footballers.

As the first title in the Routledge Critical Studies of Men and Masculinities Series, this book is fascinating reading for all students and scholars interested in football and the study of gender, sexuality and the sociology of sport.

Research has shown that since the turn of the millennium, matters have rapidly improved for gays ... more Research has shown that since the turn of the millennium, matters have rapidly improved for gays and lesbians in sport. Where gay and lesbian athletes were merely tolerated a decade ago, today they are celebrated.

This book represents the most comprehensive examination of the experiences of gays and lesbians in sport ever produced. Drawing on interviews with openly gay and lesbian athletes in the US and the UK, as well as media accounts, the book examines the experiences of “out” men and women, at recreational, high school, university and professional levels, in addition to those competing in gay sports leagues.

Offering a new approach to understanding this important topic, Out in Sport is essential reading for students and scholars of sport studies, LGBT studies and sociology, as well as sports practitioners and trainers.

Journal Papers by Rory Magrath

Association football (soccer) fans are becoming increasingly liberal in their attitudes towards h... more Association football (soccer) fans are becoming increasingly liberal in their attitudes towards homosexuality. However, the continued presence of homosexually themed chanting – normally interpreted as evidence of homophobia by footballing authorities – has received little academic attention. Through 30 semi-structured interviews with 30 male football fans of various English football clubs, this article uses McCormack's model of homosexually themed language to investigate the prevalence, triggers and interpretation of this chanting. It highlights that, despite unanimous acceptance of homosexuality, all but five participants engaged in homosexually themed chanting. This was predominantly facilitated by the nature of sporting competition and matches involving rival clubs. Alongside a variety of perceived weaknesses, fans interpreted these chants as a way of attempting to benefit one's team. Accordingly, this research highlights a discursive gap between fans' inclusive attitudes and their practice of chanting homosexually themed language inside football stadia.

This article analyzes 5,128 comments from thirty-five prominent football fan online message board... more This article analyzes 5,128 comments from thirty-five prominent football fan online message boards located across the United Kingdom and 978 online comments in response to a Guardian newspaper article regarding the decision by former German international footballer, Thomas Hitzlsperger, to publicly come out as gay in January 2014. Adopting the theoretical framework of inclusive masculinity theory, the findings demonstrate almost universal inclusivity through the rejection of homo-phobia and frequent contestation of comments that express orthodox views. From a period of high homophobia during the 1980s and 1990s, just 2 percent of the 6,106 comments contained pernicious homophobic intent. Rather than allow for covert homophobic hate speech toward those with a different sexual orientation, 98 percent of the comments illustrate a significant decrease in cultural homophobia than was present when Justin Fashanu came out in 1990.

Following recent research evidencing that young men are redefining the essential components of wh... more Following recent research evidencing that young men are redefining the essential components of what it is to be a man, this paper draws on qualitative interviews with 22 elite-level, English Premier League academy level football (soccer) players to investigate their performances and understandings of masculinity in relation to decreasing homohysteria. Even in this gender-segregated, near-total institution, these working-class, non-educationally aspiring adolescents evidence an attenuated performance of ‘maleness’ and improved attitudinal disposition toward homosexuality. Congruent with insights developed by inclusive masculinity scholars, respondents maintained emotional closeness and physical tactility with male teammates and friends. These more inclusive attitudes and homosocial behaviours were, however, slightly more conservative than in other recent research. We close by explaining this variation with reference to theoretical apparatus’ provided by Goffman and Bourdieu to advance theoretical debates about social class and masculinities.

In this semi-structured interview research, I use inclusive masculinity theory to frame attitudes... more In this semi-structured interview research, I use inclusive masculinity theory to frame attitudes toward homosexuality in 17 young Christian footballers from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. I show that, despite the recent decrease of cultural homophobia, almost half of these men maintained conservative attitudes toward homosexuality. Others, however, were more tolerant, particularly when discussing legislation introducing marriage equality in the UK. Participants' attitudes were positively correlated with where they had grown up. Most strikingly, support was almost unanimous when engaged in the hypothetical discussion of levels of support for a gay teammate, which extended to assuming the role of 'best man' at a friend's same-sex wedding. Thus, this research advances inclusive masculinity theory by applying it to the attitudes of young, religious men who are under-represented in contemporary masculinities literature.

In this semi-structured interview research, we investigate the attitudes of 22 academylevel assoc... more In this semi-structured interview research, we investigate the attitudes of 22 academylevel association football (soccer) players who are potentially on the verge of becoming professional athletes. We find that, as a result of these men belonging to a generation holding inclusive attitudes towards homosexuality, independent of whether they maintain contact with gay men, they are unanimously supportive of gay men coming out on their team. Thus, this research supports a growing body of literature suggesting that teamsport culture is no longer a bastion of homophobia in the UK. Their support includes athletes being unconcerned with sharing rooms with gay players, changing with them in the locker rooms, or relating to them on a social and emotional level. The only apprehension they maintain is that having a gay teammate might somewhat alter homosocial banter, as they would not want to offend that individual.

Book Chapters by Rory Magrath

Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport, Sep 2017

Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality, 2012

Routledge Handbook of Football Studies, Aug 2016

Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality, Apr 2014

Since the formation of the English Premier League in 1992, tolerance and acceptance of homosexual... more Since the formation of the English Premier League in 1992, tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality in England has undergone a dramatic transformation. Gay men and women now enjoy more social and legal privileges than ever before. This is best evidenced by the recent introduction of equal marriage. However, sport has historically been slower to accept gay men than wider society. Indeed, senior figures in the game replicate traditional rhetoric that football culture is not ready for an openly gay player. But despite these claims, a plethora of contemporary research, on both fans and players, show football to be an inclusive environment for sexual minorities. While there are no openly gay footballers currently competing in the English Premier League, there are a growing number of professional athletes across the world coming out to celebration and positivity. Even in football, there are a handful of players who have come out in other countries and at lower levels of the game; notably Robbie Rogers (LA Galaxy), Anton Hysén (Torslanda IK) and Liam Davis (Gainsborough Trinity). We thus argue that, without evidence of elevated rates of homophobia compared to the general culture, it is prejudice to accuse the sport of football, and footballers, of being homophobic.

Talks by Rory Magrath

Although football has long been viewed as a hypermasculine environment, there is little empirical... more Although football has long been viewed as a hypermasculine environment, there is little empirical research on the extent of homophobia in the game. Scholars who have previously undertaken research in other men’s competitive team sports found them to be hostile and unwelcoming environments for sexual minorities. These ethnographic studies have been assumed to be emblematic of wider homophobia, supported by the vilification of Justin Fashanu – the world’s first openly gay professional footballer when he came out in 1990. The lack of openly gay professional footballers in the contemporary game supports this presumption of homophobia. The British media’s continued fascination in revealing openly gay footballers also contributes to this furore.

However, recent empirical research emerging from all levels of the game has revealed inclusive attitudes towards homosexuality and challenging of overt forms of homophobia – among football fans and among amateur, semi-professional and academy-level footballers. The positive coming out experiences of Anton Hysen, Robbie Rogers and Thomas Hitzlsperger represents a marked shift from the reaction to the last openly gay professional footballer, Justin Fashanu. Ostensibly heterosexual footballers Anders Lindegaard and Mario Gomez have also claimed such a positive environment should inspire other gay footballers to come out of the closet.

This paper documents the changing relationship between football and homosexuality. It focuses on a growing body of literature documenting how the decrease in cultural homophobia has begun to parallel in football. Without direct access to elite-level footballers, we are left merely with speculation concerning the potential experiences of an openly gay Premier League footballer. However, current evidence suggests that professional football may no longer be the bastion of homophobia it once was.

Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport, Sep 2017

Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality, 2012

Routledge Handbook of Football Studies, Aug 2016

Routledge Handbook of Sport, Gender and Sexuality, Apr 2014

Sociology, Mar 25, 2021

The relationship between English football and homosexuality has changed significantly in recent y... more The relationship between English football and homosexuality has changed significantly in recent years. However, research examining this area of study has been predominantly focused on the attitudes of ostensibly heterosexual men. By drawing on semi-structured interviews with 35 'out' gay male fans, this article is the first to focus explicitly on LGBT fans' sense of place in English football. Contrary to previous research, these gay male fans represent 'authentic' notions of fandom through their passion for football and respective clubs. The recent emergence of LGBT Fan Groups has provided sexual minority fans increased visibility, and a sense of belonging and community. Finally, despite ongoing concerns about football stadia's hypermasculine and heteronormative environment, these fans believe that they have become an increasingly inclusive space. Accordingly, this article demonstrates that sexual minority fans are central to English football and argues that future research must acknowledge their increased prevalence.

British Educational Research Journal, Jun 1, 2018

Research exploring the educational experiences of LGB students and staff members has traditionall... more Research exploring the educational experiences of LGB students and staff members has traditionally been characterised by homophobia, hostility, victimisation and marginalisation. Recent research has evidenced a shift in the experiences of LGB young people, to somewhat more accepting and positive narratives, including within post-compulsory schooling. Yet, there is limited research exploring the lived experiences of LGB staff members in the Further Education context. Utilising inclusive masculinity as a sociological paradigm, this research explores the qualitative data from the narratives of 26 LGB staff and students at one Further Education college in the South of England. The results find a distinct lack of homophobia within this college, a nuanced understanding of homosexually themed language, an organisational culture of inclusivity and widespread symbolic visibility of the LGB community. Overall, our research aligns with broader social patterns that the experiences for LGB persons is improving.

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Sep 16, 2022

Non-exclusive sexuality identity labels such as “mostly straight” and “mostly gay” describe disti... more Non-exclusive sexuality identity labels such as “mostly straight” and “mostly gay” describe distinct sexualities. While research documents their existence and distinctiveness, little focus has been given to friendship dynamics with these groups and research on friendship has a heteronormative bias. In this study, we use data collected with 25 men with non-exclusive sexualities from a university in the northeastern United States to examine their friendship dynamics and intimacy practices in order to advance understanding of friendship beyond binary frameworks of straight and gay friendship groups. We document the friendship practices of men who are mostly straight, “bisexual-leaning,” and mostly gay, and develop understanding of bromance as a term that has extended to cross-sexuality and cross-gender friendships. We call for greater engagement with these sexuality labels and greater recognition of fluidity as a concept that extends beyond sexology and debates about heterosexual privilege to understand the complex dynamics of intimacy and friendship and a broader range of friendship practices among men that such understandings facilitate.

Routledge eBooks, Jun 26, 2017

Sport in Society, Sep 11, 2020

Sport has traditionally been a hostile environment for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people. Mo... more Sport has traditionally been a hostile environment for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people. More recently, however, research on a range of British sports has documented a considerable shift toward inclusivity for sexual minorities. Curiously, despite its global popularity, no research has yet measured attitudes in cricket. By drawing on 12 semi-structured interviews with a club cricket team in the South East of England, we show inclusive attitudes toward homosexuality in sport and society. We also explore how forms of 'banter' among members of the club are complex and multifaceted. Accordingly, we propose that banter in grassroots cricket can be conceptualized into 'inclusionary' forms (incorporating how a close team relationship can facilitate inclusive forms of banter) and 'exclusionary' forms (incorporating jokes which transgress acceptable forms of banter). This research therefore acts as a point of departure for further investigations of the operation of banter across different levels of sport.

Sport in Society, Oct 10, 2019

While British football has traditionally been a highly homophobic environment, recent years have ... more While British football has traditionally been a highly homophobic environment, recent years have seen a shift toward inclusivity for sexual minorities. In this semi-structured interview research, I use inclusive masculinity theory (IMT) to frame attitudes toward homosexuality among 20 male, ostensibly heterosexual, working-class footballers. Consistent with other recent IMT studies on working-class masculinities, I show that these young men espouse overwhelmingly positive and inclusive attitudes toward social and legal rights for sexual minorities-and the hypothetical notion of having an openly gay teammate. I also show how sport is integral to these men's emotionally intimate friendships with one another. Accordingly, this research advances recent findings that young, working-class men are adopting increasingly inclusive dispositions toward the presence of homosexuality in sport. Previous research on university teamsports has typically found them to be a hostile environment for sexual minorities (

Routledge eBooks, Jun 14, 2017

Oxford University Press eBooks, Sep 21, 2022

Since its foundation in the late-19th century, sport has traditionally been charged with socializ... more Since its foundation in the late-19th century, sport has traditionally been charged with socializing boys and men into an environment in which they are expected to exhibit physical toughness, emotional stoicism, and the rejection of anything deemed to be feminine-including homosexuality. In the 21 st century, however, attitudes toward homosexuality and its presence in sport have improved. This chapter draws upon research from a range of sports to outline this shift in attitude. It also discusses dominant theoretical perspectives-hegemonic masculinity theory and inclusive masculinity theory-and how these have evolved over recent years-as well as some of the ongoing debates which pervade the field, including where further research is required.

Routledge eBooks, Nov 24, 2021

International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, Jun 18, 2018

Journal of Gender Studies, Oct 30, 2017

The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the recor... more The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of the record. Please see the repository URL above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.

International Review for the Sociology of Sport, May 30, 2023

Using data from an online survey of 211 heterosexual and 148 sexual and gender minority-identifyi... more Using data from an online survey of 211 heterosexual and 148 sexual and gender minority-identifying cyclists, this article examines the attitudes of both sexual and gender majorities towards sexual and gender minorities as well as the experiences of sexual and gender minorities in relation to each other, within the sport of cycling. The results show a culture of acceptance for LGB athletes with heightened antipathy towards transgender cyclists. However, this variance is not as large as might be expected given the media attention on transgender athletes in cycling, and sport more broadly. It therefore appears that the transgender social movement is drafting closely behind LGB inclusion within this sport.

Managing sport and leisure, Nov 25, 2020

This article provides an analysis of British physical education (PE) teachers' knowledge of and a... more This article provides an analysis of British physical education (PE) teachers' knowledge of and attitudes toward concussion in rugby. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 qualified PE teachers responsible for rugby delivery in their respective schools (and who also hold a minimum of a Level 2 Rugby Football Union (RFU) accredited coaching award, and have completed the organization's concussion awareness training initiative, 'Headcase'). Findings: Due to the absence of appropriate training-both in coaching qualifications and broader teacher training-these teachers lack understanding of signs, symptoms, and aftercare of suspected concussion. Findings also indicate that 'Headcase' may be problematic in providing adequate education to ensure PE teachers are adequately prepared should serious injury arise. Implications: Given the findings of this research, we recommend: (1)'Headcase' be delivered by a qualified practitioner or form a central part of existing coaching qualifications; (2) Mandatory tackle training to be provided to PE teachers; (3) Mandatory injury logs to be kept by every school in order to better understand the frequency of injury in PE.

Contemporary Sociology, Aug 28, 2020

way it accurately captures the Latino experience in the South, the shared struggles toward belong... more way it accurately captures the Latino experience in the South, the shared struggles toward belonging among the larger Latino community of the region, and the resistance to racism and nativism through multiracial coalitions.

Springer eBooks, Nov 24, 2018

The 'Sports Media' Globally, millions-if not, billions-of people consume sport on a daily basis. ... more The 'Sports Media' Globally, millions-if not, billions-of people consume sport on a daily basis. Whether watching a live event on television (either in the home or a shared space), following dedicated channels breaking news on the latest player transfer, or the more traditional method of reading a newspaper, sport plays a significant role in people's lives. At the time of writing, the two most recent global sporting mega-events, the Olympic Games and (men's) FIFA World Cup, are testament to just how engrained in Western culture (at the very least) sports are. The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, for example, received more television coverage than any other Games: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) estimated, perhaps not unrealistically, that half of the world's population watched at least some coverage of the Games (see also Tomlinson 2017). Similar viewing figures were evident at the 2018 Football World Cup in Russia, with estimates of 3.4bn watching

International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Sep 4, 2017

International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Nov 3, 2017

Approaching the 50 th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England an... more Approaching the 50 th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, 1 a special BBC television season entitled Gay Britannia has broadcast a range of documentaries. Each covering a range of issues related to the changing cultural landscape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, these films offer important insights into this history. With a specific focus on professional football, Gareth Thomas' BBC documentary, Gareth 'Alfie' Thomas: Hate in the Beautiful Game, claimed that English football 2 risks 'being left in the dark ages' and that 'homophobic abuse is rife on the terraces'. Thomas, a renowned rugby union player for several years, came out in 2009, after years of personal torment about his sexuality almost led him to suicide (Thomas, 2014). In doing so, he became the first active, professional rugby player to come out in what he described at the time as 'the toughest, most macho of male sports' (BBC, 2009). His coming out was met with unconditional acceptance in the world of professional rugby (Anderson et al., 2016). Professional football, however, has not had a pioneering figure like Thomas. Justin Fashanu, whose coming out in 1990 was met with a severe homophobic backlash from the football community, eventually leading to his suicide in 1998 (Magrath, 2017a), remains English professional football's only active gay player. Since Fashanu's experience, attitudes towards homosexuality have significantly liberalised in the UK and other parts of Western culture (Clements and Field, 2014; Twenge et al., 2016). Moreover, the LGBTQ communities have also had significant legal gains in recent years, such as the legalisation of same-sex marriage in several countries across the world. Problematically, Thomas' documentary claims that football is resistant to this social change (c.f. Cashmore

International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport

Transgender Athletes in Competitive Sport