SPORT CULTURE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - IN THE MIDST OF A SOCIAL CONTROVERSY

This critical essay addresses a well-documented issue from a new socia l analysis approach. Key questions are asked: Are there any potential links between male socialization, sport culture and violence against w omen? Are ''masculinity and sports'' and ''masculinity and violence ag ainst women'' related? Does the male-centered socializing process at t he core of sport culture influence violence against women? The present study purports to show that sport culture is a factor of ''naturaliza tion'' of violence, which helps perpetuating women abuse. Hence the ur gency to develop a rationale of the unacceptability of sport culture a s a locus of apprenticeship and legitimization of male violence.