Male Athletes' Violence Against Women: A Critical Assessment of the Athletic Affiliation, Violence Against Women Debate

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Abstract
How can we use what we know about male athletes' violence against women to reduce the frequency of this crime? The current sociological debate on whether male athletes commit more violence against women compared to those who do not participate in organized spon is unproductive and simplistic. Theoretical constructs such as athletic affiliation and rape culture are too broad to capture the unique dynamics of athletes' violence. Similarly, violence against women is also too broad. A typology of violence against women is needed to deconstruct which aspects of athletic life contribute to this physical abuse. The author discusses the intersection between male athletes' lives and precipitating factors that may facilitate their violence against women; he suggests reframing the debate in terms of Messerschmidt's (1993) theory of men's crime, which incorporates power relations and social structures while allowing for variations among situationally distinct men.