Adolescent Football Players’ Attitudes in Cyprus Toward Gender Stereotypes,Masculinity,and Gender-Based Violence

Abstract

This study examined how toxic masculinity, gender-based violence, and sports engagement intersect among adolescent football players in Cyprus. Focus groups with 34 participants (average age 15.3 years, M = 28, F = 6) explored three key areas: (1) perceptions of gender stereotypes and traditional masculinity in sports; (2) attitudes toward gender-based violence and their behavioral impacts; and (3) how sports involvement influences traditional gender norms. Findings showed that male players held sexist views, saw men as protectors and women as vulnerable, and frequently encountered gender-based violence, though they struggled to define and address it. The study supports prior research linking sports to traditional masculinity and gender-based violence and suggests ways of engaging men and boys in ending gender-based violence.

Keywords

toxic masculinity adolescence football perceptions gender stereotypes gender-based violence

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