‘TAILGATE WARRIORS’: Exploring Constructions of

Masculinity, Food, and Football

Maria J. Veri, Ph.D.San Francisco State University

Rita Liberti, Ph.D.Cal State East Bay

Taking Food Seriously• What drew us into ‘Tailgate Warriors’?• What can studying mediated

representations of men and cooking tell us about constructions of masculinity?

• Does ‘Tailgate Warriors’ maintain, reinforce, or destabilize the traditional gender binary?

Themes

• “Battle on the Blacktop”• “Nothing Says Love Like Bacon”

• “We don’t just do brats and burgers, we can bring it”

• “that fennel sausage says Chicago to me”

Competitive Spectacle:“Battle on the Blacktop”

“These competitive contests place cooking firmly in the public sphere and promote a version of

masculinity tied to hierarchy, success, power, speed, and stamina”

(Swenson, 2009, p.49)

Competitive Spectacle: “Battle on the Blacktop”

Fieri: “Each team jumps into action with a confident game plan”

Fieri: “I see some audibles, I see some people changing positions. I’ve got running backs catching passes”

Andy (GB): “You’ve got to change it as it goes, let the

play develop and take the open lane.”

Fieri: “But just as confidence is peaking Flaherty fumbles one of their pork and beef sliders”

Tanya (SEA): “We make a really great team and we have each other’s back”

MEAT:“Nothing Says Love Like Bacon”

- “Bacon Dude”

• Food – culturally typed by gender?

MEAT: “Nothing Says Love Like Bacon”

• “She’s [the pig] been going since 8:30 last night. We slept in the parking lot to keep an eye on her.”’

- Oakland Coliseum tailgate

participant

• “Without the elk the entry is shot.”

– Guy Fieri (Tailgate Warriors)

MEAT: “Nothing Says Love Like Bacon”

Meat and the construction of difference

“Chris is spending too much valuable time on the side dish”

- Guy Fieri (Tailgate Warriors)

“I don’t know exactly how to eat this” - ‘Dr. BBQ’ (Tailgate Warriors) on

Green Bay’s appetizer - the “Lambeau Leap” Tostadas

Complexity: “We don’t just do brats and burgers, we can bring it”

• Special tools and meals make cooking an acceptable masculine activity (Adler, 1981; Swenson, 2009)“And our entrée is an elk tenderloin with fresh goat cheese, Door County cherry chutney and Wisconsin cured Pancetta”

- GB team member,describing entrée to TW judges

Complexity: “We don’t just do brats and burgers, we can bring it”

• Cooking equipment / toolsMen “see in the technology of cookerya system which proclaims theirinterests to include much more thanthe edible product” (Adler, 1981, p.48)

Food, Football, and Place• “That fennel sausage says Chicago

to me.” – Dr. BBQ

• If you’re a San Francisco 49er you know the refined ways of life. I’ve been to a bunch of 49er games [tailgating] and I’ve seen people bustin’ out sushi and chardonnay.”

Wilma Rudolph as text…how has she been represented and remembered.

• 1960 Homecoming Parade• In relation to other athletes• Autobiography• Made-for-TV movie• Children’s books• Stamp• Statue• Street signs