How Society and Media Portray Women Athletes
Before Title IX, the only available physical activities for females were cheerleading and square-dancing. Not many girls played high schools sports, about 1 in 27. Scholarships for female athletes were not common, with only 2% of athletic budgets going to female athletes in college. To change this, Title IX was formed. The law states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance”[1] Now, the number of women participating in college sports has increased from 30,000 to 182,000 since Title IX was passed. Through Title IX, they were given opportunity, but now women are facing another issue now. Instead of being recognized for their athletic abilities, the most well known female athletes are the ones that are attractive as well as decently skilled. Female athletes are shown in magazines in little clothing, broadcasting their bodies and appearances more than what they are doing in their athletic careers. For example, Anna Kournikova (top right) hasn’t won a professional tennis tournament in her career, but was named one of the six most important women in sports.[2] Many find her attractive for a female athlete. Even though Title IX made it fair for women to play sports, they are still facing discrimination.
Stamina and strength come into play with women in sports. Women are
generally seen as
weaker than
men, and often
need to somehow
prove their strength.
Men naturally have more muscle mass than women, thanks to the testosterone that is produced in their bodies during puberty.[3] Since the female reproductive system produces estrogen, the female muscular system does not experience much growth. Yet when women get older, their bodies stop producing estrogen, making them weaker. Playing sports when they are younger, increases their muscle and bone strength during menopause. Of course, everybody is different, and some people naturally have greater muscle mass. Stamina is the amount of time and effort a person can dedicate towards a physical activity without resting. It is helpful in most sports like triathlons, which require continuous, strenuous movement.
With women gaining more power in society, it is right to allow them to parrticipate in activities that men do. Title IX states how no one should be subjected to discrimination based on sex, yet we judge female athletes based on their looks and not their athletic skill? Why is this true, when we have women in governing positions now? Looks shouldn't matter in the athletic world, skills should. Some women have more stamina and strenth that some men do, and that just shows that you don't need beauty in the athletic world.
1 Unknown. (2015). Athletics Under Title IX. Recieved from: http://www.titleix.info/10-key-areas-of-title-ix/athletics.aspx
2 Lamoreux, A., (2012) How the Media Portrays Female Athletes. Retrieved from: https://aimeelamoureux.wordpress.com/
3 Blair, M., (2007). Advances in Physiology Education. Retrieved from:
http://advan.physiology.org/content/31/1/23
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Article by: Isabella, Emma, and Sydney