engleski

The Role of Gender Stereotypes in Sport Interests for Taekwondo and Other Sports of Urban Elementary School Pupils

Based on gender stereotypes (Oglesby & Hill, 1993) combat sports are considered male activities. Combat sports are perceived as aggressive and dominance- oriented and are often treated as inappropriate for female participants (Plaisted, 1995). Exploring gender stereotypes is both of theoretical importance and of practical importance for ongoing improvement of gender equity issues. The aim of this research is to analyze role of gender stereotypes in sport interests for taekwondo and other sports popular in Croatia among boys and girls of different ages. A sample of 1294 elementary school pupils (685 males and 609 females) from 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade between 11 and 15 years of age participated in study. They were given a list of 52 sports to be evaluated on five-point scale: 1 – I will never participate ; 2 – I will participate only if there is no other activity ; 3 – I will participate from time to time under suitable conditions ; 4 – I would like to participate and 5 – I will participate if there is any opportunity. The original data were standardized and transformed to 52 standardized principal components ordered according to the values of corresponding eigenvalues of correlation matrix. Discriminative analysis had been preformed regarding gender within the frame of multiple regression approach in the space of 52 principal components. Coefficient of canonical discrimination in overall space is 52=0.837 (2 52= 0.701), but when projected just on the second principle component alone is 2=0.793 (22 =0.628) which alone provide 89.59% of information of the overall system of variables. With the positive values for females and negative values form for males, the discriminative function is bipolar in structure. Such a synthetic measure of gender stereotypes component of sport interests enables us to recognize sports with high moderate and low positive values of correlations (Dance, rhythmic gymnastics, skating, aerobics, synchronized swimming, sports gymnastics, badminton, roller skating, equestrian, volleyball, acrobatics, tennis, swimming, sledging, diving, athletics, scuba, diving, skiing) i.e. 18 of them are declared as feminine. On the opposite side with high, moderate and low negative values of correlations (auto-moto sports, boxing, footbal, ice hokey, wrestling, weightlifting, table tennis, aeronautics, rowing, rugby, shooting, sports fishing, archery, fencing, spear-fishing, water polo, baseball, field hokey, pin bowling, bodybuilding, bowls) i.e. 21 of them are recognized as masculine. Finally, values of correlations oscillating around the zero (mountaineering, cycling, orienteering, water skiing, surfing, basketball, alpinism/ rock climbing, handball, karate, kayaking/canoeing, parachuting, taekwondo, judo) 13 of them are declared as gender neutral expressed sport interests. It’s important to point out that taekwondo, as an Olympic modern combat sport, is perceived as gender neutral sport in the Croatian sport culture.

Gender stereotypes ; Sport interests ; Taekwondo ; Principal components ; Discriminative analysis ; Urban elementary school pupils

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