Traditionally, masculinity was associated with tough tasks. That is shown in the history of fathers at home where women would stay at home taking care of children, men worked away from home in farms and industries. However, this has changed over time due to gender equality. This resulted in women working in jobs that were considered masculine. Although, masculinity is still present in different games such as hockey, that is only played by men. Due to its lack of written laws to make the sport safe, hockey is a rough sport resulting in concussions and mental conditions that force players to commit suicide.
Hockey may be considered the modern means of presenting the traditional masculinity where men engage in rough and dangerous play. It has some unwritten laws regulating the game. The lack of defined rules exposes players to the risk of physical harm. The fifth estate (2010) confirms that the unwritten law, also referred to as “The Code”, is about pride, solidarity, and sportsmanship by the biggest and toughest player whose focus and talent is not scoring, but protecting the teammates and revenging on the opponents. Hockey shows traditional masculinity. Like in the past where men engaged others to protect their families, the enforcer’s job is to protect his team’s star player and getting revenge on the opponents. The game has a strong association with masculinity. This, sadly, has lasting psychological, physical, and health issues on the players and their families.
Concussions are one of the primary impacts of the hockey game on the players. During the fights, hockey players sustain head injuries that have lasting impacts on the players. In an investigation of concussions among hockey players, the CMAJ reported 559 concussions during regular-season games and approximately 1.8 concussions per 1000 player-hours. However, despite the apparent connection between the fights and head injuries, the NHL does not see the link. This continues to make the game leave lasting impacts on the players and their families. Jennifer Belak Liang explains that before committing suicide, her husband had shown signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative mental disease (Smart, & Ellenwood, 2019, November 23). Head injuries result in concussions and brain injuries that further results in mental conditions that are responsible for suicidal thoughts among hockey players.
From statistics, suicide among hockey players is common. In their article, Virginia Smart and Lisa Ellenwood explore the suicide of Wade Belak’s, an NHL enforcer. Belak’s suicide was the third death in a row of tragic as well as sudden deaths of the NHL enforcers. The report shows that like most enforcers such as Steve Montador and Todd Ewen, Belak suffered multiple injuries to the head when fighting on ice (Smart, & Ellenwood, 2019, November 23). That resulted in the regenerative mental condition. Lack of care from the league makes players struggle with feelings of guilt as well as isolation. With their mental conditions, retired hockey players have minimal to do with their lives. They often feel like their time was wasted because, despite the commitment to keep their hockey career, the league does not care for them after retirement. Critically, masculinity associated with hockey game denies players the necessary care, exposing them to physical and mental dangers, aspects that contribute to their increased cases of suicide.
References
Benson, B. W., Meeuwisse, W. H., Rizos, J., Kang, J., & Burke, C. J. (2011). A prospective study of concussions among National Hockey League players during regular season games: the NHL-NHLPA Concussion Program. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 183(8), 905–911. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.092190
“Pain, Agony and ‘Years of Duress’: How Hockey Wives Are Fighting Back over Players’ Chronic Brain Injuries | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 24 Nov. 2019, http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hockey-players-enforcers-brain-injuries-1.5370444.
“The Code – Episodes – The Fifth Estate.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2009-2010/the-code.
Lovers and Fighters | Section 22 