www.pelagiaresearchlibrary.com t Available online a Pelagia Research Library European Journal of Experimental Biology, 2013, 3(2):520-523 ISSN: 2248 –9215 CODEN (USA): EJEBAU 520 Pelagia Research Library Sex role among elite male and female futsal players Behnaz Khayat 1 , Masoumeh Shojaei 2* and Afkham Daneshfar 3 1 Islamic Azad University, Branch Karaj, Iran 2 School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Vanak St., Tehran, Iran 3 Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to compare the sex role among elite male and female futsal players. Therefore, 125 futsal players (57 females and 68 males) were selected randomly from super league teams in Iran. They filled out the Bem sex role inventory (Bem, 1974). The data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) at the significance level of p<.05. The results indicated no significant differences between male and female players’ masculinity and femininity. Furthermore, the masculine sex role was significantly higher than the feminine sex role in both female and male players. Thus, it seems that the high masculinity is a success factor for futsal players, especially for female players. Keywords: Bem sex role inventory, femininity, futsal, masculinity, super league _____________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION Gender role or sex role refers to the male or female social role, i.e., the way in which people show their masculinity or femininity. People are masculine or feminine to the degree that their character and behavior fit certain cultural stereotypes. Gender role is a social tag linked to social and cultural expectations while sex, as a biological characteristic, focuses on biological differences [1]. Today we know that masculinity and femininity are not intrinsic feature but depends on cultural and social factors. Difference between characteristics and traits in men and women is not the product of their biological differences but the result of socialization and cultural expectations for each gender [2]. In defining the people with masculine characteristics it is said these are the people with high strength who may even take pleasure in violence and cursing. These people hate behaving in such a way that may reveal their weakness or tenderness, like weeping, expressing love, and affection, and rely on their logic in decision making rather emotions. Masculinity and masculine role refers to physical strength, force, and the absence of tender sentiments. On the other hand, the people with feminine characteristics are those who are easily impressed by seeing the grief of others, blood, insects and cruelty, and are fascinated by fine subjects such as romance, kids, fine arts, flowers or clothes [3]. Sex role in sport is an interesting issue that the researcher has been interested in studying it. It is necessary to masculine traits to succeed in many sports. Therefore, Some sports has been classified masculine in different societies; e.g. football, wrestling, or weight lifting [4]. Female athletes may experience role conflict [5]. Andre and Holland in 1985 studied the society’s perception of the men and women who are engaged in violent and non-violent sports, as well as non-athletes. They found male and female athletes had higher degrees of masculinity in comparison to non-athletes and there was no significant difference between both female and male athletes in terms of the degree of femininity [6]. Miller and Levy in 1999 found female athletes have higher self concept and masculinity than non-athletes [7]. Lantz and Schroeder in 1999 investigated the relationship between athletic and