Throughout the years, it has been apparent, the inequality within professional sports between men and women, specifically, the gap between salaries. While men are signing multi-million dollar contracts, women are receiving considerably lower salaries for the same sport compared to their biological counterparts. This has many people pondering the reason behind such a massive gap in salary. While they are both playing professional sports at an equally competitive level, the only difference seems to be gender. However, explaining such inequality goes beyond a simple explanation, and instead taking on multiple topics. The lack of women’s professional sports associations with substantial league revenue’s, the fan support that these associations
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Because of normative expectations (the way society thinks a particular gender, or how a particular person should act), women are not supposed to represent the strength, finesse, and superior athletic ability that a number of women like UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) mixed martial artist Rhonda Rousey, Women’s tennis pro Serena Williams and Canadian soccer pro Christine Sinclair, represent. Instead, stereotypes plague women as fragile, weak, and lacking of athletic ability when compared to men. In addition, women who are involved in athletics are often expected to dress and portray themselves in inappropriate ways. In a number of sports, women are seen wearing uniforms that expose multiple parts of their bodies. Some even suggest women wearing exotic clothing increases the popularity of women’s sports. Former FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) president Sepp Blatter in 2004 suggested women should play in women exclusive clothing saying, “let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball," also adding, "they could, for example, have tighter shorts” (BBC, 2004). Not only that, there are actually a number of women’s professional sports leagues that emphasize exotic uniforms; one of those leagues being …show more content…
Generally, a man, due to stereotypes and normative expectations (how a person is supposed to act in society depending on gender and race) are usually looked upon as leaders and role models in the majority of the world. Although this kind of power does present gender inequality in its self, this inequality is something that men can use for good when talking about the gender inequality within professional sports. Since the majority of professional sports is male dominated in terms of salary, fan support, and popularity, top professional male athletes essentially have a responsibility to support and endorse their fellow female athletes. Not to say women have not done a great job in establishing equal rights and freedom for themselves. Women have already made great strides as a community in establishing gender equality, but, at times it is not enough. Men need to step up and give women a bigger voice in the fight against inequality. Therefore, it is critical that men and women work together to achieve equality. In relation to professional sports, it is imperative that recognizable male athletes like Sidney Crosby (hockey), Aaron Rodgers (football), LeBron James (basketball) and many more male athletes endorse, support, and bring attention to the gender equality that surrounds professional sports. In addition, it is also important for female
Because of normative expectations (the way society thinks a particular gender, or how a particular person should act), women are not supposed to represent the strength, finesse, and superior athletic ability that a number of women like UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) mixed martial artist Rhonda Rousey, Women’s tennis pro Serena Williams and Canadian soccer pro Christine Sinclair, represent. Instead, stereotypes plague women as fragile, weak, and lacking of athletic ability when compared to men. In addition, women who are involved in athletics are often expected to dress and portray themselves in inappropriate ways. In a number of sports, women are seen wearing uniforms that expose multiple parts of their bodies. Some even suggest women wearing exotic clothing increases the popularity of women’s sports. Former FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) president Sepp Blatter in 2004 suggested women should play in women exclusive clothing saying, “let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball," also adding, "they could, for example, have tighter shorts” (BBC, 2004). Not only that, there are actually a number of women’s professional sports leagues that emphasize exotic uniforms; one of those leagues being …show more content…
Generally, a man, due to stereotypes and normative expectations (how a person is supposed to act in society depending on gender and race) are usually looked upon as leaders and role models in the majority of the world. Although this kind of power does present gender inequality in its self, this inequality is something that men can use for good when talking about the gender inequality within professional sports. Since the majority of professional sports is male dominated in terms of salary, fan support, and popularity, top professional male athletes essentially have a responsibility to support and endorse their fellow female athletes. Not to say women have not done a great job in establishing equal rights and freedom for themselves. Women have already made great strides as a community in establishing gender equality, but, at times it is not enough. Men need to step up and give women a bigger voice in the fight against inequality. Therefore, it is critical that men and women work together to achieve equality. In relation to professional sports, it is imperative that recognizable male athletes like Sidney Crosby (hockey), Aaron Rodgers (football), LeBron James (basketball) and many more male athletes endorse, support, and bring attention to the gender equality that surrounds professional sports. In addition, it is also important for female