Recently, professional football players Brendon Ayanbadejo and Scott Fujita spoke out to support marriage equality. Their advocacy brings to the surface a discussion that has been going on for a long time about homophobia in professional sports. It raises questions about homophobia and gender stereotyping in school sports, too. This lesson asks students to identify and discuss homophobia and gender stereotyping in athletics, and think about how to combat these attitudes and behavior at their own schools.
Professional Development
You can read some general guidelines about how to teach about gender stereotyping and homophobia at:
Civics
Standard 14. Understands issues concerning the disparities between ideals and reality in American political and social life
English/Language Arts
Standard 7. Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts
Standard 8. Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes
Standard 9. Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media
Health
Standard 10. Understands the fundamental concepts of growth and development
Benchmark 2. Understands how physical, mental, social, and cultural factors influence attitudes and behaviors regarding sexuality (9-12)
U.S. History
Standard 29. Understands the struggle for racial and gender equality and for the extension of civil liberties
Standard 31. Understands economic, social, and cultural developments in the contemporary United States
Visual Arts
Standard 1. Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the visual arts (K-4)
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