More Masculinity in Figure Skating: The Way to Go?
Johnny Weir Wikipedia
This spring, Charlie Gibson ran a story on World News Tonight discussing Skate Canada’s (the Canadian figure skating governing body) new proposal to make figure skating more “macho.” Led by two-time Olympic silver medalist and skating’s “macho man” himself, Elvis Stojko, their goal is to increase skating’s television ratings by stressing the masculinity associated with male figure skating. In turn, they hope this new masculine-branded facet of the sport will entice an audience who ordinarily would be turned off from figure skating due to its “girlie” nature.
I have some issues with this.
First of all, figure skating is a feminine sport. No matter how it is marketed, those who are drawn to the sport, and the men who excel within male figure skating, are somewhat feminine. And it works. It works because figure skating, albeit a very physically demanding sport, possesses a strong artistic quality and is extremely graceful and balletic. Our sport isn’t about tackling another guy or getting all sweaty while shooting a basket. Rather, it’s about making something that is incredibly difficult and taxing on our bodies appear seamless and elegant, all while looking attractive (generally for males that does includes some rhinestones) and connecting with an audience.
The news that Skate Canada is trying to butch up figure skating doesn’t come as a total shock; this issue has been discussed throughout the media over the past few years. Evan Lysacek, the 2009 world champion, and Johnny Weir, 2008 world bronze medalist, are two skaters who have sparked the masculine vs. feminine debate within our sport here in the United States.
Both these skaters bring some wonderful qualities to their skating. Lysacek is an incredibly consistent and tough competitor. He is also the hardest worker I have ever seen, often staying at the rink to train a particular element after everyone else has left the ice and gone home for the evening. And Weir, a beautiful jumper and superb spinner, has perhaps the most natural talent of any skater in the world.
The problem has been, however, that the focus at times has not been on their abilities on the ice, but rather on their degree of masculinity off the ice. Weir, an outspoken personality who was once referred to as a “gazelle on ice” by skating commentator Dick Button, has taken on a magnitude of criticism for his flamboyant mannerisms. Despite the fact that he is someone I admire based on his unwillingness to conform and become the robotic personality we see so often in our sport, there has been much speculation that the United States Figure Skating Association has become uncomfortable with his less than “all-American” image.
In opposition to Weir, Lysacek has been promoted by some as the heterosexual, politically correct U.S. male figure skater. Although, I think announcing his competition outfits are designed by Vera Wang and spending countless hours in a tanning bed may make the average hockey fan question Lysacek’s so-called masculinity. Still, some in the media and U.S. Figure Skating feel very comfortable touting Evan Lysacek as the “meat and potatoes” man our sport, apparently, so desperately needs.
Evan Lysacek Getty Images via Daylife
Despite the ways in which these men and others are marketed, the reality is most male figure skaters are just not that masculine. A lack of masculinity, however, doesn’t mean that we should change these skaters–they’re great as is. Instead of focusing on how they conduct themselves off the ice, we should put the focus on their abilities on the ice. Trying to convert a sport that has forever been a certain way and held a particular stigma is just not going to happen.
Men’s figure skating will probably never appeal to a mainstream, heterosexual male audience. And although the sport’s television ratings have dwindled in the past few years, causing those like Stojko to speculate on what needs changing, I don’t think trying to alter the image of male figure skating is the way to go. What’s missing for our sport is a “star” and an understanding of the new judging system–not a Hercules. Despite the fact that the judging in skating has always been slightly controversial, in the past when the average viewer saw a 5.8 out of a possible 6.0, they could usually conclude that it was a pretty good score. Now, however, when a 156.39 flashes on the board, there are too many numbers and too little explanation as to where that result came from, causing the passive viewer to be turned off.
In addition, not many people know 2009 U.S. national champion Alissa Czisny as opposed to Michelle Kwan. If our sport were able to find an athlete in any discipline who was accessible to the general public, skated well under pressure, stuck around for a while, and was open in a Weir-like manner (minus the drug references during press conferences), I think the doors of interest for figure skating would open. Evan Lysacek possesses many of these qualities and has captured a few endorsement deals after winning his world title last March. This is definitely a step in the right direction in terms of drawing in an audience by getting a skater’s face out there. However, he is good for the sport not because he is heterosexual, but because he produces results on the ice and has star-like qualities.
Hopefully with this being an Olympic year, viewers will feel compelled to tune in to watch skating regardless of whether or not the male skaters are showcasing a masculine or not-so-masculine presence on the ice. But if not, I don’t think the answer to the lack of attention and enthusiasm for our sport is going to be found by butching these male skaters up and supplying them with a 6-pack and some testosterone. It just isn’t going to happen.
Post Your Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment
T/S Members
Log in with your True/Slant account.
Well-written, Jenny. Not just reactionary, but thoughtful and insightful. Stojko had his moment in the sun once upon a time, but I am personally offended by his suggestion. Figure skating could definitely be thought of as being feminine, but I daresay that some gymnasts move as gracefully as figure skaters do, as do other athletes whose masculinity is NOT brought into question. Whether an athlete is masculine or feminine in appearance and movement is entirely subjective, but we need to ask ourselves why some people are so concerned with qualifying figure skating as being too feminine. There are stereotypes of course: Johnny Weir has done his part to propagate them further (his Swan costume), but they’re based on half truths. Johnny may appear as graceful as a gazelle, but his eccentric behavior and flamboyant dress has possibly caused his amazing athletic abilities to be overlooked by the general public. It is these abilities as an athlete, not an effeminate man, that permit him to move that gracefully. I feel the heart of the issue is the ideal of western masculinity and how figure skating is lacking in that ideal. Japanese skater Daisuke Takahashi has worn outfits ten times more flamboyant than American Weir (consider his Romeo and Juliet outfit) and is just as graceful a skater, yet I have never heard of his masculinity being brought into question, and the Japanese media is so critical that you’d figure the question would’ve been raised by now. Perhaps the issue isn’t as pressing, or the Japanese are intelligent enough to not qualify skating as being masculine or feminine…it is what is, a beautiful and graceful sport. In closing, figure skating is absurdly successful in Japan. So Americans and Canadians need to ask ourselves WHY it is so successful. I think your answer to the question is perhaps the most logical and rational, Jenny.
I agree with your observations. I think it is true that our culture appears to put a large focus on masculinity and how we believe our “ideal man” should act. In skating, I feel strongly that our focus should be skaters abilities and not on how effeminate or masculine a skater is. You also brought up a good point about Daisuke and the Japanese media. Perhaps they are able to see that skating is, in a way, a form of art, and the beauty and grace of the sport is what is to be admired.
In response to another comment. See in context »Figure skating associations should be supportive of skaters who possess unique characteristics like Johnny Weir. I’d consider Lysacek, while a tremendous competitor, to be sort of an everyman of figure skating. His appeal has a broad scope and it’s also unique that someone so tall has had so much success as a figure skater, a testament to his athletic abilities. But it is these unique skaters that further the sport and leave it different from whence they found it. If Weir were to put more emphasis on his jumps and “butch up” his skating it would be as is Johnny Weir never existed. Imagine if John Curry were asked in his time to tone it down, be more masculine in appearance. The sport would never progress and audiences would tune out. Figure skating needs to evolve.
In response to another comment. See in context »Well said: “Rather, it’s about making something that is incredibly difficult and taxing on our bodies appear seamless and elegant, all while looking attractive (generally for males that does includes some rhinestones) and connecting with an audience.”
Thanks for your comment, Coates.
In response to another comment. See in context »Standing O, Jenny! All the skating associations are paranoid about skating being perceived as less than macho and obsessed with finding “solutions” to a non-existent problem. So what are they going to do next? Outlaw pointed toes? What these people fail to realize, as you said, is that skating will never appeal to wrestling and weightlifting fans, no matter how you market it. But by denying and destroying the essence of what skating is (the new judging system being a prime example), they are losing the vast audience they already have.
Thanks for your comment, newsmuse. I really liked your opinions and observations. I think these federations like Skate Canada should take the focus off these skaters’ masculinity and shine the spotlight on how talented they are on the ice. Skating is a balletic and beautiful sport, which is something to highlight rather than to try to cover up.
In response to another comment. See in context »Interesting blog. Personally, I feel like there is plenty of room in male figure skating for more “masculine” skaters. There’s room for a broad range of styles and athletes. Men who are turned off by skating’s feminine image should also know that skating is incredibly physically challenging– it requires, balance, strength, endurance, and mental fortitude. Basically, it will keep you in damn good shape.
I was a figure skater in a past life. It ran my life for years, but almost as soon as I quit, I stopped following the sport. As you mention, fans just don’t get to follow skaters for very long anymore because skaters don’t stick around for more than a few years after winning major competitions, like the Olympics. The likes of Tara Lipinski– who won the Olympics at 14 and then bounced– ruined it for me. The sport seems to encourage rocket success (and all the pressure that comes with it), but doesn’t do much to support career skaters. Perhaps the sport has some work-life balance issues to work out? Figuring out a way to reward longevity and commitment to the sport?
I agree that it’s difficult for the passive fan to get behind certain skaters when every year there are more and more skaters leaving the sport due to injuries and/or burnout.
Although Tara has the Olympic gold, I think the majority of non-skating enthusiasts associate Michelle Kwan with figure skating due to her longevity within the sport. With younger skaters winning these prestigious titles now, it’s hard to factor in how puberty and injury may affect their careers. Their youth and susceptibility to burnout and injury generally leads to a quick turnover of faces and a difficulty for these skaters to create a following.
In response to another comment. See in context »Ms. Kirk:
I realize your comments are well intentioned, but all you have done is to perpetuate a misconception about the intention of the Skate Canada campaign. Skate Canada is not attempting to make skating more masculine, nor is Elvis Stojko involved in this campaign in any way.
Skate Canada’s campaign was to show people that figure skaters are athletes doing some that is incredibly difficult and to emphasize that figure skating is a real sport. Attached is a link to a press release from Skate Canada CEO William Thompson setting the record straight on the intention of the campaign and disavowing Elvis Stojko’s comments in the media.
http://www.skatecanada.ca/en/news_views/news/2008_2009/may_6.cfm
Thank you the link and for clarifying Skate Canada’s position. Still, my article was based on the World News Tonight broadcast, and my opinions were formed from the apparent trends in skating coverage to emphasize the masculinity in skaters. If Skate Canada has either changed their mind or altered their position away from this, then I applaud that. Again, I think our main focus should be on how these skaters perform on the ice and not on how they conduct themselves off the ice.
In response to another comment. See in context »Skate Canada did not alter their position. The focus of their campaign from the beginning was to emphasize the difficulty and athleticism of figure skating. There was never any intention to change the sport or butch it up. It’s how the media changed the original message that became the focus of the not only the NBC piece, but the CBC in Canada was guilty of this as well. Elvis Stojko just jumped on the bandwagon and that’s when Mr. Thompson issued his clarification.
In response to another comment. See in context »I absolutely love reading your blogs.Having been a skating fan for over thirty years, I have embraced a number of styles. When the skating is seemless, with wonderful edging, great flow, when the skater is “one” with the music, when “heart” and “soul” are apparent, that is what moves me.I could care less what the critics say..when Evan Lysachek skates his heart out to “Gershwin” or Johnny Weir mesmerizes the audience with his “Swan”…that’s what good skating is all about..
And for the record, Jennifer, your “Princess Diaries” from 03 Nats always moves me..made me cry that night and still does..
Keep those blogs coming!
For the above poster, Tara Lipinski was 15 when she won OG…That said, Michelle Kwan IS the gold standard in ladies skating..
Cheers!
I apologize for being late to the party, as I have just discovered your blog, and I’m enjoying catching up on your earlier entries.
I think it’s ridiculous that the Canadian federation is talking about “masculinizing” the sport…as a very long-time fan of the sport, I don’t recall seeing that many more men in the audience during Elvis’s heyday than there were before or since. And most of the men that I did see in the audience during Elvis’s run, were dragged there by their wives or girlfriends (or in at least one case that I know of, his boyfriend, who just happened to be a former skater himself).
I LOVE that Johnny Weir doesn’t censor the person that he is; I don’t always agree with some of the things he says, but I’ll defend to the death his right to say them (yes, even the drug references). As great a skater as Evan Lysacek is (and make no mistake – he is fantastic!), he’s not as all-around entertaining to me as Johnny Weir is. I think this country is pretty darn lucky to have both these guys right now.
If men’s figure skating was all masculinity all the time, I know I wouldn’t watch it all. Presentation, a supposed feminine quality, is half the battle; without attention to that half of it, the rest just isn’t worth watching.
I think Canada is misguided on this one. Figure skating is a very artistic sport, with pageantry, costumes, choreography and the like. It is theatre on ice, and any attempt to “butch” it up will turn skating into something entirely different. I don’t watch skating to see who has the most masculine/feminine program or costume. I watch skating for the aesthetics and beauty as well as the amazing athleticism of the skaters. In men’s skating, I like to see the different styles: athletic, artistic, whatever. What is Canada going to do to “masculinize” the sport without ruining it? Turn it into Kung Fu on Ice?
If these people don’t like the aesthetic, supposedly “feminine” qualities of figure skating, go watch something else instead of trying to change something that isn’t broken.