Body-focused: a contemporary look at sexism in sports
Hawene Alemayehu, Staff Writer
Since their first appearance in the arena, women have had to navigate a multitude of obstacles. In almost every aspect of the professional world women experience ample amounts of misogyny, ranging from unequal pay to constant sexualization. With this in mind, it also correlates into the arena of women’s roles in sports.
The ways in which the media represents female athletes exploits the prevalence of sexism in the world of sports, as media coverage focuses on their physical attributes and personal lives as opposed to athletic performance. The camera angles utilize their bodies rather than celebrating their athletic accomplishments
In the July 2021 European beach volleyball championships, the Norwegian women’s team chose to wear shorts instead of bikini bottoms. The International Volleyball Federation (IHF) regulations require the bikini bottoms to have a tight fit and be 10 centimeters above the kneecap. While the men’s regulations only consist of shorts that are “not too baggy”. The women’s team felt uncomfortable playing in bikini bottoms, and made the decision to change into spandex shorts. The team was fined $1500 as a result.
Women’s uniforms in sports have less to do with performance and more to do with appearance. The choice to wear shorts does not affect the Norwegian athletes’ practice, nor does it cause issues on the court. The problem lies in the traditional desire to protect femininity and the definition of what it means to be a female athlete. Dress codes for female athletes create barriers between those who can and cannot play sports.
“‘If there was any kind of advantage to having little fabric, the men would be wearing them too,’” Charlene Weaving, professor and chair of human kinetics department at St. Francis Xavier University in Canada said.
This treatment continues in collegiate sports as well. Just recently, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was exposed for not providing an adequate weight room for the female collegiate athletes. Sedona Prince, an Oregon basketball player, made a viral Tik Tok at the March Madness Basketball tournament, where she exposed the NCAA for the disparities between men’s and women’s weight room.
These differences reflect the NCAA attitude towards women’s basketball players. By not providing women the equivalent or even a sufficient weight room, the NCAA shows that they feel that women’s basketball is not as serious as men’s. If women are disregarded in this area, sexism will continue to extend to other platforms, such as the WNBA and other sports. If the NCAA is choosing not to give its female athletes equal opportunities, how can women expect society to?
Supplying women with an adequate weight room would not solve all problems surrounding misogyny in sports, but it is a step in tearing down the barriers. If women’s sports were advertised similarly to men’s, people would become more exposed to and build appreciation for women in sports. Society tends to follow the leader, therefore, by exposing one another to a diverse plate of sports, there is a better chance that more people will become accepting of women in sports.
All of these factors create obstacles for women in sports and affect the path of future athletes. Misogyny, though present in sports, is also present in many women’s daily lives. Misogyny begins to stop once society starts to become aware of these systems and establishments that prevent women from having equal opportunities. Women in sports have been through a long journey and are still fighting to be seen as more than they are.
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