2:07 PM
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Progress has been made when it comes to equality of men and women in sport but there is still much room for improvement. Gender discrimination in sports media is one of the reasons for lack of progress. However, these newspapers, sport channels and magazines are simply giving readers what they want. The corporate sponsors and the fans are just as much to blame for lack of progress. The truth is that despite the vastly increased participation of women in sport, the amount of coverage they receive is much less than the men.
It is male athletes that corporates choose to sponsor because they know they will get more coverage as a result. Colleges award fewer athletic scholarships to women. Men who win major events receive more prize money than women and more money for endorsements too. This all reveals discrimination that needs to change so women athletes have the same advantages as the men.
Power, strength and speed is associated with men and they can express their physicality in sport. Reporting on men in basketball, hockey and football has reached great heights and much coverage is given to stars. Today women athletes achieve some amazing goals in sports too but unfortunately when it comes to coverage of this, their achievements are not as well recognized.
The perception of the role of women is perhaps largely to blame. Women are still seen more in the role or spectators, cheerleeders, supportive wives and mothers than for any athletic abilities they may possess. Commercial and advertisements tend to emphasize this and dwell on physical attributes and other factors rather than talent.
There are more men reporters than women and the women who do enter this profession often struggle. They are often faced with sexual remarks when trying to report on games. They have to have tough skins to make their way in this male dominated profession. Less female reporters also means less coverage of women and so sponsors are not as interested in supporting them.
Women are often perceived as much weaker than men and people still feel that certain activities like weightlifting are inappropriate for them. Data suggests that women actually experience just as many benefits to their health and self esteem from participating in sport as men. Certain activities like swimming, skiing and ice-skating show more of a balance when it comes to coverage but even when it comes to tennis and cycling, men still dominate.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
All of these factors create a vicious cycle and prevent progress from being made. However, there have been some interesting developments such as the sponsoring of a website by some sponsors of sport that is devoted to female athletes and their accomplishments. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the day will come when no-one has to suffer discrimination in any way when it comes to their participation in sport.
It is male athletes that corporates choose to sponsor because they know they will get more coverage as a result. Colleges award fewer athletic scholarships to women. Men who win major events receive more prize money than women and more money for endorsements too. This all reveals discrimination that needs to change so women athletes have the same advantages as the men.
Power, strength and speed is associated with men and they can express their physicality in sport. Reporting on men in basketball, hockey and football has reached great heights and much coverage is given to stars. Today women athletes achieve some amazing goals in sports too but unfortunately when it comes to coverage of this, their achievements are not as well recognized.
The perception of the role of women is perhaps largely to blame. Women are still seen more in the role or spectators, cheerleeders, supportive wives and mothers than for any athletic abilities they may possess. Commercial and advertisements tend to emphasize this and dwell on physical attributes and other factors rather than talent.
There are more men reporters than women and the women who do enter this profession often struggle. They are often faced with sexual remarks when trying to report on games. They have to have tough skins to make their way in this male dominated profession. Less female reporters also means less coverage of women and so sponsors are not as interested in supporting them.
Women are often perceived as much weaker than men and people still feel that certain activities like weightlifting are inappropriate for them. Data suggests that women actually experience just as many benefits to their health and self esteem from participating in sport as men. Certain activities like swimming, skiing and ice-skating show more of a balance when it comes to coverage but even when it comes to tennis and cycling, men still dominate.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
All of these factors create a vicious cycle and prevent progress from being made. However, there have been some interesting developments such as the sponsoring of a website by some sponsors of sport that is devoted to female athletes and their accomplishments. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the day will come when no-one has to suffer discrimination in any way when it comes to their participation in sport.
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