Eric Sylwestrak

English 2100
28 April 2015

1. Citation
Roper, E. A., Halloran, E. (2007). Attitudes toward gay men and lesbians among heterosexual
male and female student-athletes. Sex Roles, 57(11/12), 919-928. doi: 10.1007/s11199-0079323-0
2. Summery
Roper and Halloran evaluate the treatment and attitudes toward lesbian and
gay men in the collegiate athletic environment. The article focuses on the
various treatments that homosexual collegiate athletes are experiencing
when participating in college level athletics. The athletes were surveyed and
reported many different forms harassment both physically and verbally.
Some even reported to have been assaulted. Within the university context,
the athletic department has been described as the most homophobic place
on campus (Roper and Hallaron, 920). Much of the attitudes that were
observed in the collegiate athletic arena is attributed to the Social Identity
Theory, which is made up of three components. These components are
categorization, identification, and comparison. With social identity comes a
sense of belonging and self-esteem for an individual (Roper and Halloran,
920). There is a culture of sports that tends to be especially conservative,
and most people equate male heterosexuality with strength and
homosexuality with weakness. (Roper and Hallaron, 920). The study showed
that those involved with degrees in science and business and those
associated with Greek letter social organizations were more likely to have a
negative attitude toward homosexuality. Whereas those associated with
degrees in arts and social sciences are more likely to have positive attitude in
the collegiate athletic environment. Additionally the research indicates that
contact with diverse groups may increase ones acceptance and assist in the
rejection of stereotypes and prejudices toward a particular group (Roper and
Hallaron, 921). Overall there is a significant difference between the male and
female student-athletes toward gay and lesbian team mates. Male athletes
tend to have a more negative attitude then the female athletes.

3. Reflection
The article was thought provoking and expanded my knowledge and insight
with regards to the various attitudes toward gay and lesbian collegiate
athletes. The studies showed a significant correlation in the attitudes toward
both gay and lesbian athletes and significantly more negative toward the gay

Eric Sylwestrak
English 2100
28 April 2015
men then their female counter parts. The presence of this negative attitude
within the university and even the teams has a significant impact on the
team as a whole. The violation of gender roles is viewed much more harshly
toward males than females. There is an interesting correlation with the
acceptance of homosexuals in various sports and field hockey was one of
these sports. There was a greater occurrence of participants having been in
contact with gays and lesbians. This higher concentration of exposure is
something of note. With this higher exposure there seems to be an increase
in the acceptance of the alternative life styles. There is also some indication
that with an increase in social acceptance and general exposure to
homosexual individuals there will be a more positive attitude and treatment.
This may also indicate more of a unity within the team.

Eric Sylwestrak
English 2100
28 April 2015

1. Citation
Mullins, E. M. (2013). Scale development: Heterosexual attitudes in womens collegiate athletics.
Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 17, 1-21.
2. Summery
Mullins evaluates the attitudes toward homosexual female collegiate athletes.
Homophobia and heterosexism are negative attitudes about lesbians, gay,
bisexual, and transgendered individuals at the individual, institutional, and
societal levels (Mullins, 1). This article is focused on the treatment and
attitude toward female athletes in the college athletic setting. Mullins uses a
questionnaire to gain an aggregate of data from many experts. These
questionnaires were used to establish the overall tendencies of the attitudes
toward athletes that were not heterosexual. The results stated that there
was a significantly more negative trend. Heterosexual athletes were more
prone to be discriminatory toward members of their team that were openly
homosexual as opposed to those that were still in the closet.

3. Reflection
The article was interesting and allowed for a greater understanding of the
data collection processes and well as the treatment of female collegiate
athletes from their teammates. Throughout the study there was a
commonality of discrimination and hostility toward collegiate athletes that
were openly homosexual. These players are ridiculed and harassed for their
teammates as well as other members of the organization. Additionally
there was a constant miss conception that just because a woman played a
specific sport that she must be a lesbian. This is a narrow mind set and
speaks to the lack of evolution within the organization as a whole. This
article stated that there was approximately 75% of the athletes in collegiate
athletic that are heterosexual. This just shows how out one side the cultural
tone is throughout the organizations.

Eric Sylwestrak
English 2100
28 April 2015

1. Citation
Ensign, K. A., Yiamouyiannis, A., White, K. M., Ridpath, B. D. (2011). Athletic trainers attitudes
toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual national collegiate athletic association student athletes.
Journal of Athletic Training, 46(1), 69-75.
2. Summery
Ensign, Yiamouyiannis, White, and Ridpath evaluates the attitudes toward lesbian, gay, and
bisexual collegiate athletes by the trainers with in collegiate athletics. The authors use surveys
with many different athletic trainer with in collegiate athletics to collect aggregate data and
trending. Based on the results, the majority (86.4%) of the athletic trainer participants held
positive or somewhat positive attitudes toward lesbian, gay, or transgendered student athletes
(Ensign, Yiamouyiannis, White, and Ridpath, 72). The results also showed that male trainers
score higher and displayed less positive attitudes. The article also explores the relationship
between attitudes and religious affiliations as well as age. People between the ages of 20 and 50
years held more positive views than did those younger than 20 or older than 50 ( Ensign et al.,
73).
3. Reflection
The article was interesting and allowed for a greater understanding of the attitude of athletic
trainers toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual collegiate athletes. The article indicated that the overall
trend was slightly positive to positive. This result is not indicative for all situations though. The
finding showed that male trainers were less accepting of the alternative life styles. This is a
profound statement in my opinion. Additionally there was a correlation between open acceptance
and having a family member or friend that is homosexual. It seems that most are able to accept
things that they understand. When you have a close relationship with some one of an alternative
life style, you tend to view it as a norm and can alleviate the stigma that follows. This article is
also more recent and is more indicative of the current cultural norms within society today. The
profession should not tolerate an environment that does not support positive physical and mental
health for all its patients, regardless of their characteristics (Ensign et al. 73).

Eric Sylwestrak
English 2100
28 April 2015

1. Citation

Williams, C. (2007). Sexual orientation harassment and discrimination: Legal protection

for student athletes, Journal of legal Aspects of Sports, 17(2), 253-284.
2. Summery
This article evaluates the treatment of gay, lesbian, and bisexual student athletes and the
importance of establishing a legal course of action for student athletes who face discrimination
based on their sexual orientation. While full inclusion and affirmation of gay, lesbian, and
bisexual student-athletes should be the ultimate goal, adoption and enforcement of diversity
policies and practices is an important step in ensuring a safe and productive environment for all
athletes (Williams, 254). The article further describes homophobia and indicted that it stems from
the notion that sports are expressions of masculinity. There was a significant difference in the
attitude between male and female athletes in regards to perceived stereotypes. Men who rely on
these masculine stereotypes often use them to assert and preserve their superiority over men who
show stereotypically feminine stereotypes and women who show stereotypically masculine
stereotypes (Williams, 255). There is also a significantly greater occurrence of disparaging
comments from male rather than female athletes. This does not exclude discrimination for
womens athletics. Homophobia in womens athletics is used to undermine the accomplishments
of female athletes and to discourage womens participation in sports (Williams, 256).
3. Reflection
The article brought to light a lot of interesting issues and concerns that I had not considered. In
this day and age there is a major culture shift that is more excepting of alternative life styles. It is
more common now to have friends or family members that are homosexual then ten or even
twenty years ago. The occurrence of discrimination in collegiate athletics is unfortunately more
common than it should be. The main perpetrators tend to be males in the organization. It is more
like to hear a male athlete blurt out a disparaging comment toward another team mate then you
would hear a female. Additionally there are instances where coaches will dissuade student
athletes from attending rival schools by insinuating that the coach and the players at the other
school are gay. This is an appalling scare tactic that is aim at confusion and the misnomer that the
homosexual athletes will recruit others into being gay or a lesbian. This negative recruiting is
absolutely a form of discrimination but must be proven first and must meet the criteria for
harassment. This is an unfortunate loophole in the system that should be a little bit more
inclusive. There should still be there be the burden of proof but the discrimination itself is an
issue.

Eric Sylwestrak
English 2100
28 April 2015

1. Citation

Schroeder, P. J. (2010). Changing team culture: The perspectives of ten successful head
coaches, Journal of Sports Behavior, 33(1), 63-89
2. Summery
Schroeder evaluates the perspective of ten successful head coaches in an attempt the gain insight
on the effects of the leader on culture in an athletic organization. The integration model of
organizational culture is leader driven (Schroeder, 65). This means that the culture and attitudes
of the organization is mirrored from the leadership. In an athletic environment the head coach is
the person that sets the acceptable behaviors within the team. The head coach will either create an
environment of acceptance and understanding by showing the way. At the core of every
turnaround was a clear set of values stemming almost entirely for the head coach (Schroeder, 72).
Giving the members of the organization the visual example will provide the standard for others to
follow. Virtually all coaches, within the study, believed that the values had been adopted by their
teams within the first three years of their tenure (Schroeder, 70). This means that the team will
adapt to the change in acceptable cultural behavior in a short time when given the guidance and
reinforcement.
3. Reflection
There is a great deal of research that indicates that the leader will provide the example for others
to follow. This is indeed the case within athletics. The coach has the ability to change the
organization in the direct they see fit. They can create a culture of acceptance and inclusion of all
members of the team regardless of the race, gender, or sexual orientation. By keeping the focus
on the performance and not the person the organization will foster good relational habits and in
fact better team cohesion. The coach will need to praise good actions and maintain a zero
tolerance for discrimination of any kind. The coach will also need to be consistent in order to
reinforce the behaviors of the team members. Nearly all change is driven by a clear set of values.
These values are the building blocks for the organizational culture and must come for the head
coach.