Whether someone is male, female, black, Caucasian, a doctor, a thief, etc., society has a stereotypes about them. According to google, a stereotype is "a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing". This belief is typically held by the majority of people in society and is usually difficult to disprove. If someone tries to discredit their associated stereotype, they will find it very hard to accomplish partly due to their foe, the media. The media is not always reliable. They sell stories and magazines in order to make money and oftentimes rely on current stereotypes in order to accomplish this. One group that has been in a long-term battle with the media is female athletes. As more female …show more content…
Eoin J Trolan (2013) (as cited in Whisenant, Pederson, & Obenour 2002) argues that a situation was created in which sport and masculinity became synonymous with one another (p. 216). A female could not be an athlete without being considered masculine and a homosexual. This belief is still believed by many, and according to Emily Liang (2011), this has created "a 'woman first, athlete second' attitude that challenges athletes' achievements and self-esteem" (Liang, 2011). In order to uphold the belief about femininity, the media started to sexualize many of the female …show more content…
A great example of a female athlete that succumbed to the pressure was Anna Kournikova. Kournikova, "despite never winning a major tennis tournament is worth more than any other tennis player past or present, due to endorsements based on her appearance rather than athletic skill" (Prior, 2016). According to Trolan (2013), Kournikova marketed her "scantily clad figure and Eurocentric features" in order to gain media attention and receive her numerous endorsements (p. 220). On the other hand, the media shamed Mexico's best gymnast, Alexa Moreno, as being overweight, she weighed 99 pounds, instead of celebrating her (Davidson, 20016). Another example of female athletes succumbing to the media's expectations is the athletes in the women's football World Cup. Numerous years national teams appeared naked in mens' magazines, including Germany's team posing in Playboy in 2011. According to the football teams, they did this photoshoot to promote the World Cup. Unfortunately, if the media actually provided equal broadcasting time for both genders' sports, these women would not have had to use their bodies in order to promote their
Ice hockey, a sport that has been in existence for over two hundred years, has become a fan favorite across the globe. From Canada to Sweden, you will be able to find some of the best ice hockey players in the world; both male and female. This pastime has instilled a unique tradition throughout the years of its practice by a combination of both physical skill and mental strength. Although it did not provide aid to globalization, it has created a worldwide culture that many people are proud to be a part of. Since its inception until now, there has been a great deal of gender stereotyping concerning the sport. Regardless, ice hockey will continue to be a lucrative market, as well as a cherished hobby for many years to come.
1. Through the readings, films, and discussions, we have looked at the image of women in sport. Discuss the images of women in sport and how they are affected by today's cultural ideal of women.
From the individual level to a national and global scale, certain tasks and activities legitimize the gender and define the identity of men and women. Traditionally, the culturally specific behaviors of men comprise masculinity while those of women constitute femininity (Connell, Masculinities 68-69). In many cultures, masculinity and femininity exist in a hierarchy, with masculinity being superior to femininity. The terms can be even further stratified, as some forms of masculinity and femininity are preferable to others (Moss 2). Sociologists often consider the most lauded masculinity in a particular culture to be hegemonic, or dominant, and this image of maleness becomes the ideal for men in that society (Moss 2). Although the concept of masculinity is constantly evolving, one activity that is often intertwined with the hegemonic form is the practice of sport (Brandt and Carsens 233). Similar to the evolution of masculinity, athletic events have changed greatly over the years. Originally, only males participated in sports, but today a diverse group of individuals can part in a variety of sports from the local to a professional level. However, despite the growing involvement of women in sports, sports media perpetuates a hegemonic masculinity by selectively covering male sports and by emphasizing the bodily performance and sexuality of male athletes.
The Sporties. The Sporties is a sitcom that focuses on the Australian love of sports and cheeky behaviour. It is set around the time of the Rugby State of Origin and follows a group of supporters on each side. It will be set in multiple location, such as the football field, pub and the characters homes.
...ennis, basketball, soccer, and martial arts—have come from the days of cheerleading and synchronized swimming when she was growing up in the ’70s.” Disparities in media coverage and over-sexualized female athletes on magazine covers is something that needs to come to an end because of its effects on both male and female viewers, young and old, athletes and non-athletes. Both female and male athletics influence young people and shape their personality and morals as they mature. Retired WNBA player, Lisa Leslie credits her participation in basketball with shaping her character, as well as her career. “Sports can also help teenagers during an awkward time in their development.” (“Women’s Athletics: A Battle For Respect”). The solution is to come together as a society and identify how to balance the respect for female and male athletes in the media.
Simultaneously, the NFL has more gradually and aversely moved to allot black men an equal opportunity to succeed at the quarterback position. Some spectators have come to the conclusion that the NFL does not want running quarterbacks; an aspect that often throws black dual-threat quarterbacks for a loss.
...used sex appeal as empowering means. Consequently, female athletes have acquired the ability to develop and utilise the power given to them to perform femininity and yet still garner social acceptance.
There are two sides to every coin. This is something to keep in mind when examining the topic of gender in sport. Specifically, I am speaking of the costs and benefits of a male or female entering a sport in which he or she is not traditionally accepted for their gender. The two sides to this concept lay not only the individual's sacrifices as the underdog, but also in the benefits the individual encounters on his or her adventure into uncharted territory. Of course, it is a struggle for the individual to become accepted by the sport world, and also the general public. It can be an uphill battle in order for him or her to even be able to participate initially. On the other hand, upon crossing the gender boundary, the individual can earn great recognition. This brings the concept to another level; there are cultural benefits that arise from an individual entering a non-traditional sport for their sex. Three movies that we viewed in the first half of this course have served to demonstrate the individual costs and benefits involved when women become involved in sports that are not traditionally accepting of the female sex. After close analysis of "Girl Fight", "Pumping Iron II", and "Personal Best", effects that these women have on the female culture as a whole, to this day, become clear.
Although my main focus within sexism in sport is on women, I believe that the unrestrainable issue caused essentially by stereotypes effects men as well, for example, male cheerleaders, dancers and gymnasts are often assumed to be gay and are homophobically discriminated against accordingly just because of the sport they do. (Likewise, while the world is prepared to take advantage of the elegance shown by women in sports like ice-skating, ‘tomboyish lesbianism’ is connoted by women hockey, football or cricket players.)
Whether you 're off or on the social media there will always be stereotyping because we all do it without noticing it. Stereotyping is the way to fit in society, just like how Sandy in Grease became rebellious just to fit in the description Danny was looking for. The characters in Grease used all types of stereotypes, for instance; being cool, popular, tough, getting into trouble, smoking, drinking and other stereotyping. As the media increases with their stereotyping and showing their audience of how the ideal woman or man should be, stereotyping will continue to happen. In these cases different types of stereotyping is amongst it whether it be gender, racial, sexuality, ethnicity, or social class. As long as the media exposes any of these to their audience we will believe anything they tell us because that’s just the way society is. We abide by what someone else tell us so we assume it must be true, but in reality it is what one wants to believe and what one wants to abide too. So let 's take this as a lesson that stereotyping is inevitable and will continue to happen as long as we take in what the media wants to show us or what one wants to believe from another
Since they additionally reduce their womanliness by declining to take an interest in sexualized depictions, these female competitors experience much feedback from society, particularly male viewers, for being persistent and forceful. On top of this kickback, female competitors who don't feel the requirement for or contradict sexualization confront dissatisfaction from individual athletes.[5] Female competitors who grasp sexualization for the most part regard the choice of the individuals who restrict sexualization, yet a few, for example, Olympic champion swimmers Jenny Thompson and Ashley Tappin, have really scrutinized their associates for not flaunting their bodies and taking after the well known pattern. As indicated by Mark O'Keefe, a
...on about women in sports advertisements, and gives the opinion that athletes are sexualized in advertisements. I’ve learned that many women’s sports advertisements support and emphasise the idea that beauty comes from strength and athleticism, but some advertisements brush off an athletes accomplishments in order to make them beautiful or sexual. I think that women will be portrayed in sports advertisements and other advertisements the way people are comfortable and used to seeing them be portrayed. Things that I still haven’t learned from my sources are how men are portrayed in sports advertisements and if there are any stereotypes about female athletes. A new question I have is what does it mean to be sexualized or objectified, and does this happen to female athletes? Next, I want to see how men are portrayed in sports advertisements, and if they are masculinized.
Race, gender, history and sexual orientation play major roles in women's participation in sport. Through out the history of women in sport, opportunity has increased. Many athletes and coaches are presented with the issue of sexual orientation throughout their sporting career. Regardless of sexual orientation, all female athletes are affected by heterosexism. One's racial or ethnicity background greatly shapes the experience they may have in sport. This essay explores the many issues women in sport face today.
Whether its baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, or tennis, sports is seen all over the world as a representation of one’s pride for their city, country, and even continent. Sports is something that is valued world-wide which has the ability to bring communities together and create different meanings, beliefs and practices between individuals. Although many people may perceive sports to have a significant meaning within our lives, it can also have the ability to separate people through gender inequalities which can also be represented negatively throughout the media. This essay will attempt to prove how gender is constructed in the sports culture while focusing on female athletes and their acceptance in today’s society.
Over the past decade or so, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of women dominating in their respective sports. As well as, seeing women dominate in their professional sports, we’ve seen women become more prominent in broadcasting, and reporting on sports as well. An occupation that once was male dominated, is not so much anymore. These strong female figures, such as Ronda Rousey, Venus and Serena Williams, Maya Moore and Erin Andrews are making waves and names for themselves in sports history with their notable athleticism, feministic views, and sports knowledge. These great women are making a statement that sports are not just for men, but also for both men and women, and sports previously where only men participated are starting to see women enter that field. Even in a male