Japanese Teenager\u27s Perceptions of Gender and the Relationship with Sport Activities : Findings from a Factor Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to make clear the plural structures of femininity and of masculinity, and to investigate how sport activities influence the ways in which Japanese teenagers perceive gender, based on a questionnaire survey in junior high schools in Tokyo. By factor analysis of eight items of gender perceptions, these items were divided into three factors. Boys\u27gender perceptions consist of \u27sturdiness\u27, \u27discontent with one\u27s own sex\u27, and \u27male\u27s superiority on intellectuality\u27. Girls\u27gender perceptions consist of \u27acceptance to one\u27s own sex\u27, \u27male\u27s superiority on gender relationship\u27, \u27male\u27s superiority on abilities\u27. For boys, sports heighten their perceptions of \u27sturdiness\u27, whereas for girls, sport cause maladjustment to their own sex and have an effect of making their attitudes toword gender role conservative