Machokulturen inom elitsatsande idrottsverksamheter : En kvalititativ studie om maskulina normer och skillnadermellan män och kvinnor i idrottsbranchen

Sammanfattning: The macho culture's influence on values and norms is deeply rooted in society and is brought into the world of sport. Sports such as ice hockey and football have been labeled as macho sports. "A real man" is considered to be tough, tough and aggressive. In football and ice hockey, there are contexts where masculine norms are expressed, which can affect men's well-being and perception of the world around them. Previous studies have shown a tendency for how the phenomena manifest themselves behind the men's closed locker room doors in various sports activities. This study aimed to investigate whether the masculine norms and macho culture were expressed in elite sports activities and how gender equality within the associations affects women and men. Lately, the view of the traditional man who is considered callous and responsible has taken on new forms. The view of men's masculinity has changed where gender equality has contributed to masculinity being shaped and changed in different ways. Despite the changes, the demands and expectations on men are getting higher and harder to achieve. This results in men becoming increasingly insecure and afraid of not achieving the masculine ideal. The overall aim is to get men and women's descriptions and reflections on masculinities and macho culture related to their own lives and participation in elite sports activities, problematize the area constructions of masculinities, and to gain an understanding of how gender equality prevails among men and women in sports culture. R.W Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity is constituted in the study where the concept of gender describes relations of masculinities and structures of social practice. The basis of the empirical data collection is applied in qualitative method with semi-structured interviews introduced among 8 participants. The selection consists of elite athletes, both women and men aged between 20-35 years. This was a conscious choice to see if there are differences in their reflections on the macho culture in the associations. The result shows that the macho culture expressed itself more and more in the past and that it has improved over time as the associations have rules and policies that have3to do with gender equality. In ice hockey and floorball, the associations work preventively against gender equality, which includes various forms of lectures, and that previously experienced players give lectures about their own previous experiences that dealt with how mental illness characterized their lives and the macho culture. Football also has certain rules for gender equality and values that must be followed and taken into account. Most of the respondents expressed that they felt safe in their associations and that the macho culture was worse in the past and it has become much better in recent years. Even several even felt that there is no macho culture at all.