There's No Crying in Rugby

Gender performance is a time consuming activity, especially on a college campus. Any self-identified male or female is not only subject to personal scrutiny, but public scrutiny based on perceived gender, appearance, area of study, and choice of activities; straying from accepted gender norms results in stigma that disenfranchises the individual and discourages others from engaging in similar behavior. While colleges are home to multiple women's athletic teams, competing at various levels, participating females are expected to be feminine on and off the field. However, rugby is held to different standards, and I find myself defending my femininity and sometimes, my heterosexuality, because of my participation on my school's club team. Rugby, due to its physical nature, forces women to exhibit "masculine" behavior that is deemed worthy of reproach, discrediting the commitment of its athletes and inhibiting the growth of the sport.

American society functions with a gender binary: you are male or female, straight or gay. Individuals are expected to adhere to criteria that dictate their appearance and actions, and for women that means being feminine. Physically, women are supposed to be smaller and weaker than men, an appearance that should translate into meeker and more emotionally driven behavior. Sociologist Karen Walker asserts, "men focus on shared activities, and women focus on shared feelings"(246), which explains why "few women volunteer that they [engage] in athletic activities with friends" (256). College campuses offer a unique environment for women to explore their abilities, often times resulting in playing on a sports team. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 increased women's accessibility to high school and college athletics, making it more acceptable to be labeled a "female athlete" under the auspices of equal opportunity.