On Thin Ice: Toward A Modified Male Peer Support Theory of Professional Hockey Players’ Violence Against Women

in Sociology of Sport Journal

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Walter S. DeKeseredyDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA

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Stu CowanSports Columnist, Montreal Gazette, Montreal, QC, Canada

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Martin D. SchwartzDepartment of Sociology, George Washington University, Cincinnati, OH, USA

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There was a burst of creative social scientific investigation into hypermasculine male athletes’ violence against women in the 1980s and 1990s, but this interest has seemed to have dried up. Furthermore, the extant literature on this problem is for the most part atheoretical and devoid of sociological ways of knowing. Thus, the main goal of this paper is to highlight the value of applying a modified male peer support theory of male-to-female violence to explain the linkage between playing professional hockey and online and offline variants of woman abuse.

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