Female Objectification Creates a Gap Between Femininity and Athleticism in the Female Sports Industry
Written By Jocelyn Hockaday
This short essay analyzes the female sports industry in terms of female objectivity and the gap is developed between femininity and athleticism.
Throughout the female sports media and commentary industry, female objectification has been a determination between femininity and athleticism. With the gender crisis not being a surprise as shown throughout the history of American women's sports, this ideal has made its way into modern various sports media and commentary platforms.
Objectification of female bodies has been a huge issue in today's female sports and commentary industries. This degradation had then created a gap between athleticism and femininity. For example, in a study conducted by Smallwood (2014), where he had respondents view photos from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and ESPN: The Magazine’s Body Issue. Respondents would then respond and the responses varied as so: “results from the 221 respondents indicated that while Si Pictures were more likely to receive high ratings for femininity and sexuality, ESPN pictures yielded higher scores for athleticism and muscularity.” This then came to the conclusion that “sex might just sell women’s sports” which calls to action to make adjustments to “previous literature” (Smallwood, 2014). The stereotype that the idea that a woman's athleticism and femininity cannot coexist with each other is outdated. Not to mention that the divide between whether a woman's athletic or feminie is ironic has a woman's femininity has everything to do about a woman's personality and self-expression, but nothing about her performance as an athlete. When these two ideals coexist with each other, they create powerful icons such as…. This allows the younger generation to know they can do it too; that a woman's femininity can take all shapes and forms; that a woman can be themselves and no longer takes a man's direction on how women's sports should look like.
As discussed above, the break between femininity and athleticism has created a controversy in women's sports media and commentary. Though, this gender crisis is not a surprise, given the trail left by the history of American women’s sports. For instance, “In 2004, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that women’s soccer could be promoted by having athletes wear tighter shorts, "promoting a more female aesthetic." He also incorrectly stated that a lighter ball is used in the women’s game to create a more female aesthetic, and questioned that strategy shouldn’t be extended to fashion”, said The Victory Press. Sutton agree’s, that this idea of objectification in women's sports in absurd: “if Shakespeare were to rise from the dead and observe ... our modern ladies as they practice various forms of sport, he would soon come to the conviction that his remark: “Weakness, your name is Woman!” is today absolutely inappropriate! For it is impossible to characterize a sex as “weak” when a steadily increasing number of its representatives swings half hundred weights around in the air like cherries, jumps two meters high”, (Sutton, 2009). The way Sutton conveys his idea is unique as he includes a direct quote from a historic literature icon, which during Shakesphere’s time, women didn’t receive nearly as much respect as they do today. The way a woman showcases herself to the world can differentiate, though all the results are the same: she is a woman, whether it’s as a mom, an athlete, or a model. As women’s sports and commentary attention expands and grows, many gender roles have been broken, yet so many still remain.
These ideals still continue to impact modern various sports media and commentary platforms. This is shown through the wage gap that divides women and mens sports. For years, worldwide, women had gotten paid less than men, as shown through a study by Monster Salary Index: “ Indian women receive 19%, much less than males. As this number shows, almost half of Today’s population is being mistreated,and it's essential that we think about it”. In women’s sports, leagues are paid through endorsements, and often women have to work another job in order to live comfortably. Gender bias is a huge influence of objectification in women's sports as well. Women are often subjected to their stereotypes such as the “traditional” role of a woman's job skills remain concerned with house duties. Modernly, women have started away from this role and shown their skills in other industries such as sports, e.g., hockey, basketball, etc. Often it is found in sports, a woman has to choose between having athletic traits or femine traits, where the question lies why can’t both characters coexist within each other? Gender bias serves as an instrument to filter this into the observations made during commentary. For example, asking an athlete about their personal relationships or how they were able to “body the opposing team in the paint” rather than their performance and mentality and team dynamic techniques used during the game. People have criticized women in how they looked, often bringing up their sexuality and relating to their performance, when they have zero correlation.
Throughout history women have had to fight for equal rights within the job force, politically, economically, and through the sports industry. Social norms and stereotypes that have made its way throughout history have shaped a divide between women and mens sports. Though women have made a lot of progress from gaining more publicity and funding, women's sports still lack accessibility to resources that are easily given to men. These issues have developed through objectification and gender bias. The solution to the issues are complex, but can be achieved if the sports industry unites and takes the small steps to achieve the opportunities and resources that women deserve, therefore that gives the ability for our young women to see on the television that anything is possible.
Bibliography
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