Written by Shae Herndon, Winston-Salem, NC
“Sports are for men!” Some people think and feel that way. But sports are for everybody.
Courtesy: golf.about.com-
Some sports, like gymnastics, require grace, expression, and poise. Other sports, like crew, require endurance and strength. And still other sports, like golf, require shrewd calculations.
Even though men and women play all of those sports, the concept of “gender-specific sports” is reinforced and preferred in society. That belief can hinder women from participating in what some consider to be “masculine sports.” And in some sports, like tennis, women are more likely to be photographed than when they play “male-identified sports,” such as ice hockey. There’s a lot more sex appeal associated with the tennis.
Courtesy; zimbio.com
Female athletes who participate in “masculine sports” are also under a lot of pressure to perform–so excessively, in some cases, that they end up hurting themselves. At the 2008 Winter X Games, for instance, Gretchen Bleiler competed for a second, consecutive gold medal in Snowboard. Bleiler plummeted while making an extremely difficult turn and lost her chance at winning the gold. If Bleiler had won she would have been the first person—not just the first woman—to achieve that feat.
Researchers are looking at failed and poor athletic performance to see if stereotypes have anything to do with outcomes. Results show that female athletes experience stress regarding gender stereotypes associated with their athleticism. It can effect performance.
Since 1972 more women have been participating in sports, a function of Federal legislation, the Title XI Educational Amendment. Even so, TV air time continues to favor men. Marketing experts think women can get more coverage if they emphasize their sexuality, but that approach is unrelated to athletics. It’s the wrong answer.
Courtesy: abcnews.go.com
What can we do to set the right course? Let’s start by understanding that sports are sports. Women athletes need to be appreciated for what they do and what they accomplish. Tell that to your sisters, daughters, nieces, granddaughters, and every woman that competes.
And let’s put an end to using a phrase that represents–perhaps like no other–presumed athletic differences between men and women:
“You throw like a girl!”
