The Social Dynamics of the Male Locker Room: Examining the Presence of Multiple Masculinities and Hegemonic Masculinity Imperatives in Locker Room Culture

Abstract

For many athletes, the locker room exists as a place to put on and take off their athletic attire before and after practices or games. In addition to serving a functional purpose, the locker room can also be utilized as a social setting where athletes can interact, swap stories, and form friendships with their teammates. The male locker room forces men to engage in close quarters with each other and perform some of the most personal and private actions, such as changing clothes, showering, and using the bathroom, while in the presence of the entire team, which should be a reason to form close bonds with one another. However, not all men on athletic teams have similar masculine identities, personalities, or sexual orientations, which points to why all men do not conduct themselves or operate the same in the locker room. A sense of brotherhood can be accomplished, and men can have positive locker room experiences motivated by team culture and captain leadership, but it involves effort from within the team to handle the expected risks and dangers that could occur in or as a result of the locker room. People tend to characterize the locker room in simplistic or negative terms, but this research suggests that young men experience the space as one that fosters personal growth and brotherhood, which ironically often requires countering toxic behavior. By studying collegiate male athletes’ personal experiences within the locker room at Princeton University, this research attempts to break down commonly held misconceptions about the locker room, masculinity, and the hierarchical nature of the masculine identity.