I read the article, "Manhood on the Mat" by Jackson Katz and Sut Jhally. This article describes how wrestling has increased in popularity in the past decades. The theory is that men and boys are drawn to it because they feel that they are being threatened by the continuing empowerment of women. Furthermore, the lack of "manly" jobs due to the increase in technological use has caused men to no longer have the feeling that they are doing a hard days work. WWE has helped men and boys redefine masculinity to fit in to today's understanding of society. In WWE wrestling, the men are looked to as manly beasts who are muscular, tall, and full of testosterone. The mens role in the show is to fight each other, often to avenge a "girlfriend" or a woman that is associated with the act. This helps young men and boys to fantisize about being that masculine person who's sole job is to save the weak and helpless woman.
UFC differs in that the men are actually fighters. Women do not have a big showing in UFC either. They have separate gender roles. The men are the fighters and the women hold up signs and cheer.
http://www.sutjhally.com/articles/manhoodonthemat/
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