Sports Rules; Life Rules

        Everyone knows that there are differences between men's and women's sports. The rules are different in some competitions such as gymnastics and lacrosse, and the style of play is different in sports such as baseball/softball, and basketball. But can these differences in sporting have an affect on real life expressions of emotions like aggression and assertion, and do the different styles of play between men and women have an affect on how these emotions are expressed? These are the questions that can be raised when considering men's and women's sports and the differences between them.
       It has long been thought that men are more aggressive than women purely by nature, but also because of their exposure to contact sports. However, new research shows that that may not be true. According to Linda Keeler, "It is unclear whether the differences found across gender and sport types are due to different sports socialization processes, or an existing disparity in those who gravitate toward certain sports" (60). So, the question is no longer whether males or females are more aggressive, but rather, which types individuals are already aggressive and whether certain sports legitimize more aggressive behavior. Which brings about the point that most sports that were traditionally considered masculine have had the rules modified to allow less contact when they are being played by women (Keeler, 59). Even though this is true,the research that Keeler presents shows no significant differences between men's and women's aggression levels on the field, even though men showed higher incidences of aggression in real life circumstances (Keeler, 70). The fact that women are shown to have just as high aggression levels on the field as men is a testament to the accomplishments that women have made in the world of sports today. From this research it would seem that young women are being taught to assert themselves to achieve their goals as athletes; something that would not have been taught to young girls in the past.
        This research is a clear indication that women continue to make leaps and bounds in the world of sports. They are becoming much more assertive in themselves as athletes, and that is important to their continued success. Being aggressive on the field creates a sense of empowerment to future athletes and allows for them to reach goals that they may never have achieved without the road that was paved by the female athletes of today.

                                                                 Works Cited
Keeler, L. A. (2007). The differences in sport aggression, life aggression, and life assertion among adult male and female collision, contact, and non-contact sport athletes. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30(1), 57-76. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.emich.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/215870547?accountid=10650 

Elise