Emma's observation is an interesting one. Sport appears to be an
important part of many university work place cultures. Of the two
geography departments I have recently been part of, both have
football teams and much of the coffee room culture revolves around
the discussion of sport. While departmental football teams and
sport 'chit-chat' appear to help to transcend differences between
male academic and non-academic staff, in a fairly obvious,
mundane, yet powerful way, they help to perpetuate a specific kind
of exclusionary agressive/competitive masculinity that is still
commonplace among academic workplace cultures. Such activities
serve to further legitimise the inherent masculinity of academic
work practices, blurring the distinction between work and leisure. It
is perhaps not surprising that the RAE is often likened to
professional football.
Alastair Owens
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Alastair Owens
Lecturer in Human Geography
Department of Environment,
Geography and Geology
University of Luton
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
Tel: +44 (0)1582 489298 (2298 internal)
Fax: +44 (0)1582 489212
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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