Article 2a: Men like us, boys like them: Violence,masculinity, and collective identity in football hooliganism (Spaaij, 2008)

Question 1

Narcissism of minor differences

Answer 1

The emphasis of minor differences between groups (age, gender etc.) to form a unique identity. Hooligans groups often construct their collective identity based on this.

Question 2

Violence in hooliganism

Answer 2

Violence and willingness to engage in it are central to hooligan social interaction and group formation. Honour within and between hooligan groups is often negotiated by violent interaction with rivals. They often experience excitement and pleasurable emotional arousal from the violence.

Question 3

6 fundamental features that are universal to the hooligan identity

Answer 3

1. Excitement and pleasurable emotional arousal (adrenaline rush, excitement)
2. Hard masculinity (toughness, fearlessness)
3. Territorial identification (football clubs, local areas)
4. Reputation management (of the individual and the collective)
5. Sense of solidarity and belonging
6. Representations of autonomy and sovereignty (supreme power or authority)

Question 4

The construction of a hard masculine identity

Answer 4

Hooligans often construct their hard masculine identity by emphasising physical strength and heterosexual dominance. The goal is to attain an unambiguous sense of one’s own masculinity by ritual denigration: the practice of insulting and questioning the masculinity of rivals to assert one’s own masculinity.

Question 5

Establishing respuations

Answer 5

Built on successfully challenging rival hooligans. They act in ways consistent with their claimed toughness and need to ensure that these achievements are publicised (via the media, friends etc.). Without constant attention, reputation decay can happen.