Ok, here we go.
First topic: Jockstraps
The first jockstrap was invented 1897 by the Bike Web Company, which led eventually to the extremely popular Bike #10 Jockstrap, worn by millions of men over the years. The jockstrap became a staple item for athletes of all kinds. It used to be synonymous with men involved with any form of athletic activity.
I remember that when I made the transition from elementary school to junior high, my father told me that I might need to buy a jockstrap for gym class. But never during the entire span of my junior high and even some of my high school career did I even once see a jockstrap.
So where did they go? When did the jockstrap's reign on the athletic falter?
Sometime in the 80's/90's, the jock lost popularity to compression shorts (for whatever reason). In losing this, I believe many males from the past generation have lost out on an important rite of passage in being a man. (I, fortunately, purchased my first jock on my own in my sophomore or junior year of high school... I forget which.)
But yet, in the past decade or so, the jockstrap has made a return. Many different companies (both sports and fashion oriented) have begun to launch their own jocks.
Currently, I'm conducting a survey of men by leaving links to a poll in locker rooms, bathrooms, and other such places through colleges and recreations centers, to better try to understand people's habits and experiences. Once the survey is complete, I'll post a link here.
The second is the strange rite of passage into adult manhood that used to (and perhaps still does) accompany the jockstrap. In the perfect story, a father takes his son to the local sporting goods store where he buys him his first jock, and his son feels like he's just like dad. The requirement of a jockstrap goes hand in hand with puberty, growth, hormones, and all that good stuff.
So why has the jockstrap seemingly lost popularity? Has American society caught on to the seemingly "gay" aspect of the jock? Are today's youth rejecting what their fathers and grandfathers saw as normal and traditional in an act of rebellion? Or maybe people simply don't see the jockstrap as reliable today as it used to be?
When the online survey has been completed, I will post the results for public view. If anyone has questions, comments, praise, hate mail, or anything of the like, feel free to send it to me.
First topic: Jockstraps
The first jockstrap was invented 1897 by the Bike Web Company, which led eventually to the extremely popular Bike #10 Jockstrap, worn by millions of men over the years. The jockstrap became a staple item for athletes of all kinds. It used to be synonymous with men involved with any form of athletic activity.
I remember that when I made the transition from elementary school to junior high, my father told me that I might need to buy a jockstrap for gym class. But never during the entire span of my junior high and even some of my high school career did I even once see a jockstrap.
So where did they go? When did the jockstrap's reign on the athletic falter?
Sometime in the 80's/90's, the jock lost popularity to compression shorts (for whatever reason). In losing this, I believe many males from the past generation have lost out on an important rite of passage in being a man. (I, fortunately, purchased my first jock on my own in my sophomore or junior year of high school... I forget which.)
But yet, in the past decade or so, the jockstrap has made a return. Many different companies (both sports and fashion oriented) have begun to launch their own jocks.
Currently, I'm conducting a survey of men by leaving links to a poll in locker rooms, bathrooms, and other such places through colleges and recreations centers, to better try to understand people's habits and experiences. Once the survey is complete, I'll post a link here.
The second is the strange rite of passage into adult manhood that used to (and perhaps still does) accompany the jockstrap. In the perfect story, a father takes his son to the local sporting goods store where he buys him his first jock, and his son feels like he's just like dad. The requirement of a jockstrap goes hand in hand with puberty, growth, hormones, and all that good stuff.
So why has the jockstrap seemingly lost popularity? Has American society caught on to the seemingly "gay" aspect of the jock? Are today's youth rejecting what their fathers and grandfathers saw as normal and traditional in an act of rebellion? Or maybe people simply don't see the jockstrap as reliable today as it used to be?
When the online survey has been completed, I will post the results for public view. If anyone has questions, comments, praise, hate mail, or anything of the like, feel free to send it to me.
No comments:
Post a Comment