Understanding Sports Media Essay: Michelle Rimmer s3379700
Female Athletes and the Media
In the late 20th century, the number of females that played sport rose dramatically. This increase in participation reflected a change is societal ideology and was a significant development in the battle for gender equality.
The implementation and regulation of civil rights legislation, Title IX, in the United States, set a global standard for the access that females have to participation in sport. As a result, there are now female representatives in amateur and professional competitions in almost all sports, with more girls and women excelling in sport than ever before. 1 Despite this, the changes in female participation and athletic achievement have …show more content…
There are major inconsistencies in media coverage of male and female athletes. These discrepancies can be seen in the amount of coverage, placement of coverage, language used to describe athletes and the way that female and male athletes are presented visually- both on and off the field.
Despite significant advances in gender equality within society, the media persists to hero-worship talented male sports stars while continuing to marginalise, trivialise and sexualise female athletes.
The achievements of female athletes are significantly under-represented in the media. A study by The Australian Sports Commission in 2013, found that women in sport made up just “seven per cent of all sports coverage in Australia” (Australia Sports Commission, 2013). The report also showed that in order to receive media coverage, female athletes needed to win, whereas male athletes received coverage regardless of their success.
In instances where female athletes are featured in the media, they are often misrepresented as stereotypically feminine first and as athletes …show more content…
This competition receives more TV coverage than any other female sport team in Australia. The uniforms are designed to be erotic rather than for protection. As a result, there have been a number of instances where players have been rushed to hospital with broken wrists, shoulders, ribs or necks. That these female athletes continue to be sexualised at the expense of their safety is a reflection of the expectation that society has for female athletes to prioritise their appearance. This expectation continues to disempower and trivialise the athletic potential of women and the value of females in sport.
With more women in positions of authority in sports clubs and media outlets around the world, the sporting arena has taken massive steps to eradicate gender parity.1 But the agenda surrounding the media coverage of female athletes indicates that there is still a long way to go if we want to achieve gender equality in sport. Rather than empowering women, the sexualisation, trivialisation and marginalization of female athletes in the media preserves prehistoric gender stereotypes and poses a risk to the way that women’s sports are valued now and in the
Female Athletes and the Media
In the late 20th century, the number of females that played sport rose dramatically. This increase in participation reflected a change is societal ideology and was a significant development in the battle for gender equality.
The implementation and regulation of civil rights legislation, Title IX, in the United States, set a global standard for the access that females have to participation in sport. As a result, there are now female representatives in amateur and professional competitions in almost all sports, with more girls and women excelling in sport than ever before. 1 Despite this, the changes in female participation and athletic achievement have …show more content…
There are major inconsistencies in media coverage of male and female athletes. These discrepancies can be seen in the amount of coverage, placement of coverage, language used to describe athletes and the way that female and male athletes are presented visually- both on and off the field.
Despite significant advances in gender equality within society, the media persists to hero-worship talented male sports stars while continuing to marginalise, trivialise and sexualise female athletes.
The achievements of female athletes are significantly under-represented in the media. A study by The Australian Sports Commission in 2013, found that women in sport made up just “seven per cent of all sports coverage in Australia” (Australia Sports Commission, 2013). The report also showed that in order to receive media coverage, female athletes needed to win, whereas male athletes received coverage regardless of their success.
In instances where female athletes are featured in the media, they are often misrepresented as stereotypically feminine first and as athletes …show more content…
This competition receives more TV coverage than any other female sport team in Australia. The uniforms are designed to be erotic rather than for protection. As a result, there have been a number of instances where players have been rushed to hospital with broken wrists, shoulders, ribs or necks. That these female athletes continue to be sexualised at the expense of their safety is a reflection of the expectation that society has for female athletes to prioritise their appearance. This expectation continues to disempower and trivialise the athletic potential of women and the value of females in sport.
With more women in positions of authority in sports clubs and media outlets around the world, the sporting arena has taken massive steps to eradicate gender parity.1 But the agenda surrounding the media coverage of female athletes indicates that there is still a long way to go if we want to achieve gender equality in sport. Rather than empowering women, the sexualisation, trivialisation and marginalization of female athletes in the media preserves prehistoric gender stereotypes and poses a risk to the way that women’s sports are valued now and in the