Brian Pronger

Brian Pronger worked as an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, at the University of Toronto. Pronger held a PhD in Philosophy and Exercise Science from The University of Toronto. Pronger was a long serving advocate for equity in respect to gender and sexuality. The Arena of Masculinity, his first work, was a popular merger of Foucaultian theory, sport, and sexuality. His work on sports and sexuality established Pronger as high profile theorist. His second work, Body Fascism, built upon these themes. When not writing or teaching, Brian volunteered as a contributing editor for The Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Culture.

Brian Pronger was a founding member of the Sexual Diversity Studies undergraduate program and helped create the Sexual Representation Collection housed at the Bonham Centre. We honour his memory and his legacy. Please see this remembrance for more information.

Selected Publications:

Body Fascism: Salvation and the Technology of Physical Fitness, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002.

“Homosexuality and sport: who’s winning?” in Jim McKay, et al., eds, Masculinities and Sport London: Sage, 2000.

“Fear and trembling: homophobia in men’s sport.” in Philip White and Kevin Young, eds., Sport and Gender in Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1999.

“Outta my endzone: sport and the territorial anus.” Journal of Sport and Social Issues. 23, 4 (1999): 373-389.

“On your knees: carnal knowledge, masculine dissolution, doing feminism.” in Tom Digby, ed., Men Doing Feminism. New York: Routledge, 1998.

The Arena of Masculinity: Sports, Homosexuality and the Meaning of Sex. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990.