What it means to be a female athlete
Hawene Alomayehu, Staff Writer
Many athletes set their sights on playing in the “big leagues” from a very young age. Becoming a professional athlete is not without its challenges for anyone, as it requires lots of training and large time commitments. However, women face more of these challenges than many others. The journey to professionalism for female athletes is frightening, and many unfair roadblocks stand in their way. Despite the large steps which have been taken to improve female’s place in the athletic world, female athletes have had a multitude of barriers to overcome. In recent years, many female athletes have stepped forward about the physical abuse and sexist treatment they have faced as a result of their status as a female athlete in the athletic world.
The media ensures an athlete’s femininity is the vocal point of their reports, rather than their athletic skill. Female sports coverage highlights beauty and sex appeal, overshadowing any accompishments the athlete may have. One example of this is Sydney Carter, former Women’s National Basketball Association player and current coach at Texas A&M University. After posting a photo of an outfit which she wore to one of her games, Carter received numerous slanderous comments on her stylistic choice of pink leather pants and white turtleneck, many questioning whether it was an appropriate outfit to wear. Carter’s outfit had nothing to do with the game or her coaching, yet the media emphasized her clothing choice more than anything else.
Historically, the media’s portrayal of female athletes conveys the idea of “female first, athlete second.” Such a message prohibits female’s from upending the sexist stereotypes which haunt their athletic careers. In addition to this, if a female athlete fails to meet the standards of femininity media lords over them, they are labelled as “too masculine” or “lesbian.” By focusing more on their body than their athleticism, the media strips female athletes of their accomplishments. A prime example of this is Serena Williams. Williams holds 39 Grand Slam titles, founded her own brand and is a mother. Despite her countless athletic achievements, if one were to type “Serena Williams” into google, they would only find videos surrounding her anger, instead of her talent.
Many female athletes have spoken up about their personal experiences with sexual assualt. Often, these horrific experiences are rooted in their position as a woman in sports. Larry Nasar, a doctor who worked for the USA Gymnastics medical team staff, admitted to sexually abusing over 250 female gymnists. Such an event is only one example of the ways in which female athletes are seen as mere objects in the world of sports. The treatment of female athletes by the athletic world speaks to how gender alone stands as a roadblock to any achievements or life female athletes hope to obtain.
The disgraced doctor was sentenced to over 40 years in prison. However, what enabled him to do this was his position of power as a doctor and isolation with the girls. The massive have resparked national movements, such as the #MeToo, which encourages women to tell their stories and makes efforts to stop harassment in all institutions.
The situation remains, and female athletes face countless obstacles throughout their professional careers. As more athletes share their experience with sexual abuse and treatment, the only correct response is change within institutions and media.
