Comparing Men and Women's Football

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Comparing Men and Women's Football

“The cultures of sport in Britain have been distinctly male, rooted in

masculine values and patriarchal exclusiveness” (Whannel, 1991). This

statement links to the fact that football has always been perceived as

more of a masculine game rather than a female game. The F.A backed

this up by banning the sport in 1921. In this essay using some problem

solving skills I want to establish an explanation to why women’s

football hasn’t attracted much interest in terms of both participation

and spectatorship. In section one of this essay, I want to introduce

women’s football, using important dates to highlight and reinforce the

sports development during time. In the next section, I am going to

reflect on the media’s influence on the women’s game as a whole and

how it can create certain stereotypes. In section three I am going to

discuss the theory of the role model in relation to the interest in

women’s football. In the penultimate section of my essay I am going to

use evaluate various problem solving tools to suggest certain

amendments which the governing bodies can use to attract more people

to women’s football, both in terms of participation as well as the

levels of spectatorship before concluding the main points of the

essay.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter (1999) pronounced that ‘”the future of

football is feminine.” This statement followed the success of the 1999

women’s World Cup finals in America. Women’s football hasn’t always

sparked such high accolades although it has certainly been present for

many years. In fact there is some evidence which suggests that the

first instance of women’s participa...

... middle of paper ...

..., as they need to

explore different ways in which they can introduce a professional

status, without the prospect of failure. Top football managers in

England and even some players have remarked that women have no place

in the game as players or even as spectators. But attitudes are

changing and with more exposure and sponsorship for the women’s game,

progress will be made. Major changes are being made both at elitist

level and grass root levels of the game. Ultimately, one of the major

advantages available to the F.A, is the tremendous marketability of

football at present, therefore all the governing body has to do for

the women’s game is to improve coverage and exposure to it, therefore

in the future the game may be able to compete, both in terms of

economic status and the interest generated, with the male’s football.

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