Week 13 Trujillo

In Nick Trujillo’s article he discusses hegemonic masculinity in sports culture and the media representations of Nolan Ryan, specifically. Trujillo’s write about the media’s portrayal of Ryan as the ultimate male icon, or the pinnacle of hegemonic masculinity during his 25 year career and a pitcher in MLB. Trujillo analyzes five features of the media coverage of Nolan Ryan that reinforces this idea: the embodiment of the male athletic power, as an ideal image of the capitalist worker, as a family patriarch, as a white rural cowboy, and as a phallic symbol.

Trujillo argues that sports are the most influential to American’s sense of masculinity. With football becoming increasingly popular, the idea that men are strong, aggressive, and violent has definitely emphasized the idea of what hegemonic masculinity means in this country.

The media has portrayed Nolan Ryan as the “embodiment of male athleticism”, and have reaffirmed the power of the male body by referring to him as a “power pitcher” throughout his career. Nolan Ryan is an ideal image of the capitalist worker which is showcased by the media’s fascination with his pitching records both individual and as a team. Capitalism strives to breed the best workers possible and Ryan was definitely one of the best at his job. Third, the media portrays Ryan as the family patriarch, the bread-winner, the man of the house who works hard to support his family. Next, Ryan as a “cowboy”. The all-american cowboy is a classic image of an ideal man. Finally, there’s the media’s portrayal of Nolan Ryan as a sex symbol which is essential to being the poster-boy for hegemonic masculinity. 

            I think the notion hegemonic masculinity in sports is important to understand because it is everywhere. While advertisements for men’s sports I see are over-masculine at times, ads for female athletes can often be an extreme opposite in that they are hyper-feminine. I guess in the mind of the media that style tries to “make up” for the perceived masculinity of successful female athletes.