Why Are Some Heterosexual Men Threatened By Male Figure Skating? Is There Only One Form Of Masculinity That Exists?

Last night, I watched the men’s short program and the skating was excellent.  However, the bias the judges have for the Russian Evgeni Plushenko is such a joke!

It is ludicrous that Evgeni Plushenko is in first place.  Plushenko’s skating is very athletic, he has the quad, but his weakness is his artistry. Plushenko has no connecting steps, poor footwork,  and slow spins. Why isn’t Plushenko penalized for his lack of transition?

It is hypocritical for the judges to inflate Plushenko’s marks when his skating is incomplete. It doesn’t make sense to me that Plushenko is in first place when he his artistry is horrible.

The skater’s performance is supposed to “illustrate” a story to the audience, this is the reason music is included.

The skater’s job is to “paint”  and  “interpret” the story correctly through the foot work, spins, jumps, edges, to the audience.

If figure skating was just about the jumps there would be no need for the music. The music sets the mood since figure skaking is  entertainment, it is not just about the jumps.

I  disagree with Elvis Stokjo’ argument  that men’s figure skating is “soft”. I think it takes a lot of courage,  talent, and determination, for men to compete at the elite level in figure skating.  All the male figure skaters at the Olympics have a passion for the sport and they deserve our respect.

Masculinity is socially constructed by a  homophobic society that preaches to men that we must conform to compulsory heterosexuality. Lesbian feminist  Judith Butler’s analysis is correct,  gender is performative. Society lectures to men that we “better” do our “gender” right or we will be “punished”. Gender is  also sociallly constructed, there is no true or false to gender.  Gender is reiterated multiple times to appear natural.

The male figure skaters know homophobic men like Elvis Stokjo are “judging” their masculinity but they don’t care.  Stojko’s argument about masculinity is so rigid. What is masculine? Does masculinity mean having “no feelings” or “no emotions”?  The male figure skaters are showing their “feelings” on the ice that’s more masculine than being a superficial  macho brute.

I think it takes a “strong” man to stand up to other men that want to put you in line. There seems to be this demarcation of what it means to be a “real man.” The male figure skaters challenge this heterosexist image of masculinity that is engendered  through compulsory heterosexuality.

Figure skating is a combination of both the jumps and artistry. I understand that some heterosexual men like Stojko feel their masculinity is threatened  by the “effeminate” male skaters. However, I think the “soft” skaters are a lot more exciting and fun to watch.

The openly gay American skater Johnny Weir was robbed! Johnny skated clean he nailed all the jumps and he has the artistry. However, Johnny is in sixth place!

Johnny’s performance was superb!

The judges are homophobic, they are  “punishing” Johnny Weir because he is an openly gay man! So what?  I can’t believe the issue of sexuality is even an issue in men’s figure skating! Johnny is an interesting character in men’s figure skating, but he is also very talented. I think people forget that Johnny is a three-time US men’s champion and a World’s Bronze Medalist. Johnny should be higher than sixth!

Switzerland’s Stephane Lambiel had a chance to challenge Plushenko but he messed up his quad jump. Lambiel is in fifth place.  I believe Lambiel is the most talented skater in the men’s competition he has the complete package. Lambiel has the jumps but he also has incredible footwork, speed, and jumps.

I believe that men’s figure skating challenges the  ludicrous heterosexist image that all male figure skaters have to macho. Men’s figure skating is very athletic,  you have to  complete three revolutions, have excellent speed, and good spins.

Of course, you need the jumps but the skating is not just about the jumps. The Japanese skater Daisuke Takahashi  and  American skater Evan Lysacek performances are superior to Plushenko. Plushenko’s skating is very  “boring”, he is just a robot he has no “transition” steps he’s just “jumps.””

Canadian Patrick Chan performance was a huge disappointment and I am not surprised.  Chan  is in seventh place,  and  he has a serious attitude problem. Chan  got into verbal arguments with France’s Brian Joubert and the Russian Plushenko. Joubert and Plushenko are former World Champions and Chan is not. Chan has a lot to prove.

Chan is very young, but his advisers need to teach him that humility is very important.

Meanwhile, France’s Brian Joubert’s skate was horrendous. Joubert is a former European and World Champion, yet he capitulated again at the Winter Olympics! Joubert is in seventeenth place. Two time US champion Jeremy Abbott crumbled under the presssure he forgot to complete his triple axel. Recently,  Abbott  won the US men’s championships defeating Weir and Lysachek. Abbott has a lot of talent but did not execute, he is in fifteenth place.