Lesbians play football too: widening the gender debate

The gender debate works with an analysis based on stereotypes of masculinity and femininity. These stereotypical gender roles are enforced by labelling those who step outside of them as having a non-conventional sexuality. Thus, the cultural perception of lesbians and gay men as 'bad' is pivotal in the enforcing of gender roles. So, until heterosexism is dismantled sexism cannot effectively be countered. Much work to tackle gender inequalities actually reinforces heterosexism and thus sexism. The equal opportunities agenda must include acknowledgement and exploration of the interrelationship between sexuality and gender, in order to be effective.