A study by researchers at Fordham University has found that a culture of masculinity laden with anti-LGBTQ and damaging language exists in youth sports, representing a significant public health concern that has extensive and lasting effects.

While participating in sports usually yields numerous benefits for young people, the study indicated that these benefits diminish as youths encounter more of this harmful language—regardless of whether they are directly targeted by it. Such toxic environments affect not just LGBTQ youth but all participants, with straight white boys experiencing the most detrimental effects.

“It negatively impacts everyone’s wellbeing,” stated Laura Wernick, a lead author of the study and an associate professor of social service at Fordham in Bronx, New York.

Homophobic, transphobic, and misogynistic remarks are frequently employed in boys’ sports to motivate or assert dominance, reinforcing traditional notions of masculinity. Locker room talk often includes expressions like “man up” or “don’t be a sissy,” leading boys to feel pressured to conform to expectations to avoid being perceived as gay or effeminate.

The research revealed that youth exposed to higher levels of such language experienced fewer benefits from sports, particularly regarding self-esteem. The decline in self-esteem was notably more pronounced among straight white cisgender boys compared to other groups, Wernick noted.

“The irony of enforcing masculinity,” she added, “is that it is counterproductive. It ends up bringing these kids down.”

Although LGBTQ youths are also adversely affected by this language, the impact on them and other marginalized groups is less severe, according to the researchers, because their prior experiences have equipped them with better coping strategies.

“They may be better at managing stress due to those experiences,” explained Derek Tice-Brown, the co-lead author of the study. “This enables them to tackle issues as they arise, in contrast to cisgender straight boys who may lack such experience and skillset.”

The harmful use of anti-LGBTQ language impacts not only queer and trans youths, Wernick emphasized. “It harms our community. It affects all of us.”

Study originated from high school student project

This study, which was published earlier this year in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues, analyzed data collected in 2014 as part of a project created by high school students in Michigan. Wernick, then a doctoral student, guided these students throughout the process.

These LGBTQ students collaborated through Neutral Zone, a youth empowerment organization in Ann Arbor, sharing their experiences of bullying and marginalization.

“At that time, media coverage of the experiences faced by queer and trans youth was minimal,” Wernick recalled. “Their stories were largely ignored or disbelieved.”

The students aimed to showcase the widespread nature of this issue and conducted a survey across a mix of five urban, suburban, and rural schools to gather insights on the prevalence of harmful language in different environments, including youth sports.

By analyzing responses to survey questions about self-esteem and the frequency of exposure to anti-LGBTQ language from peers or coaches, Wernick and her co-authors were able to draw their conclusions.

“Many coaches might not realize the profound effects their words have on boys,” Tice-Brown noted. “They have likely played sports in a similar environment and were conditioned to compete and conform to certain notions of masculinity.”

Impact of phrases like ‘man up’

Engagement in sports can offer numerous developmental advantages for young people, including enhancing physical health, fostering a sense of belonging, boosting self-esteem, and promoting sportsmanship and teamwork.

“Overall, humans, and especially teenagers, need to feel a sense of belonging and connection with others,” noted Jeffrey Montez de Oca, a sociology professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. “Sports can provide that connection, linking individuals to something greater than themselves.”

However, youth sports settings can also reinforce harmful behaviors, particularly among boys. This occurs when derogatory language directed at LGBTQ individuals or girls is used to promote rigid masculine stereotypes. Such language includes not just anti-LGBTQ slurs but also phrases that associate femininity with weakness, such as “you throw like a girl.”

“It’s not just about you throwing poorly or not well,” stated Michael Kehler, an education professor at the University of Calgary. “It ties into femininity. Boys enter those arenas knowing exactly how to discuss sports, and failing to conform can lead to feelings of anxiety and unease. You are constantly under scrutiny.”

Environments like gyms and locker rooms in youth sports often establish a hierarchy based on talent and physical appearance, linking these traits to social status, according to Kehler.

“The golden Olympian is held in high esteem,” he explained. “These spaces become stages for boys to display their physical abilities.”

This culture of masculinity, he added, “continually reinforces specific norms about how boys should behave and sends harmful messages about the consequences for those who do not follow these standards.”

Lasting impacts of toxic sports environments

Such cultural dynamics continue into professional sports, where very few male athletes come out as gay. Players who show vulnerability or emotion often face ridicule; for example, Fox Sports commentator Skip Bayless criticized Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in 2020 for openly discussing his mental health challenges, and Brazilian soccer star Neymar faced backlash in 2018 for crying after his team’s World Cup victory over Costa Rica.

“When professional athletes show strong emotions, many people are uncomfortable with that,” Kehler remarked. “This dynamic opens up discussions about mental health and highlights that while some athletes may express vulnerability openly, many boys are wrestling with similar feelings.”

In the short term, Kehler pointed out, boys who are subjected to homophobic or misogynistic remarks from peers may choose to steer clear of such environments altogether, leading them to abandon sports once school mandates are fulfilled and depriving themselves of numerous personal benefits.

“I’ve spoken to adults who shared that entering those locker rooms during their youth was one of the scariest experiences of their lives,” he said.

According to Montez de Oca, these masculine cultures can hinder the emotional growth of boys who are navigating a crucial phase in their lives where they seek acceptance, yet their feelings of vulnerability clash with traditional notions of masculinity that emphasize toughness and invulnerability.

“Boys become emotionally distant,” he added. “They struggle to articulate their feelings because discussing emotions is perceived as a vulnerability in a fiercely competitive atmosphere, which, in turn, exacerbates feelings of inadequacy among straight boys in those environments.”

In the long run, he noted, the conflicting desire for inclusion while being unable to express it may contribute to depression and antisocial behaviors such as substance abuse, binge drinking, and addiction to video games.

“Men generally have a shorter life expectancy than women,” Montez de Oca stated. “We often find ways to harm one another at considerable rates. Men are less inclined to seek medical assistance when they face health issues, and when they do, they may not adhere to medical advice. Their lifestyles tend to be less healthy than those of women, largely due to their difficulty in acknowledging vulnerability, which many view as a source of shame.”

Healthy Masculinity Models

As a parent of a 12-year-old son preparing to engage in youth sports, Wernick emphasized that these findings highlight an opportunity to reshape the concept of masculinity.

“It would be fantastic to have role models demonstrating what healthy masculinity looks like,” they expressed.

Wernick identified some existing portrayals, referencing the Netflix series “All American,” which follows a young football player from South Los Angeles who is recruited to a school in Beverly Hills.

Both Wernick and Tice-Brown highlighted the widely discussed moment from last month’s Democratic National Convention where Gus Walz, the 17-year-old son of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, emotionally praised his father while accepting the Democratic vice presidential nomination.

Although the emotional display from Gus Walz attracted ridicule from some right-wing circles, Wernick mentioned that this intimate moment between father and son exemplified a positive form of masculinity. This is further illustrated by Tim Walz’s support for the LGBTQ community while serving as the faculty adviser for the Gay-Straight Alliance at his high school, where he also coached football.

“It’s truly wonderful that you can excel in various roles, showing that supporting LGBTQ youth can coexist with demonstrating strength and masculinity on the football field,” Wernick remarked.