Progress has been made when it comes to equality of men and women in sport but there is still much room for improvement. Gender discrimination in sports media is one of the reasons for lack of progress. However, these newspapers, sport channels and magazines are simply giving readers what they want. The corporate sponsors and the fans are just as much to blame for lack of progress. The truth is that despite the vastly increased participation of women in sport, the amount of coverage they receive is much less than the men.
It is male athletes that corporates choose to sponsor because they know they will get more coverage as a result. Colleges award fewer athletic scholarships to women. Men who win major events receive more prize money than women and more money for endorsements too. This all reveals discrimination that needs to change so women athletes have the same advantages as the men.
The physical strength, power, speed, and size of male athletes is covered extensively in the press. The games they participate in like football, hockey and basketball boost ratings and the stars are given great status. Despite the fact that many women athletes are very successful, they do not achieve the same recognition.
This is perhaps due to the fact that perceptions need to change. The role of women still seems to be seen by many as a supportive one. They are the spectators, the cheerleaders, the mothers and the wives. Their own athletic skills take a secondary place. Advertisers do not help in that they tend to reinforce this perception in the way they portray women.
Bigger events are often held for men and there are more of these for them to participate in. Less and smaller events for women means less reporting on the achievements of women athletes and increased difficulty in getting the attention of sponsors. Sponsors want to have as much coverage as possible for the money they invest.
Women are often perceived as much weaker than men and people still feel that certain activities like weightlifting are inappropriate for them. Data suggests that women actually experience just as many benefits to their health and self esteem from participating in sport as men. Certain activities like swimming, skiing and ice-skating show more of a balance when it comes to coverage but even when it comes to tennis and cycling, men still dominate.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
All of these factors create a vicious cycle and prevent progress from being made. However, there have been some interesting developments such as the sponsoring of a website by some sponsors of sport that is devoted to female athletes and their accomplishments. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the day will come when no-one has to suffer discrimination in any way when it comes to their participation in sport.
It is male athletes that corporates choose to sponsor because they know they will get more coverage as a result. Colleges award fewer athletic scholarships to women. Men who win major events receive more prize money than women and more money for endorsements too. This all reveals discrimination that needs to change so women athletes have the same advantages as the men.
The physical strength, power, speed, and size of male athletes is covered extensively in the press. The games they participate in like football, hockey and basketball boost ratings and the stars are given great status. Despite the fact that many women athletes are very successful, they do not achieve the same recognition.
This is perhaps due to the fact that perceptions need to change. The role of women still seems to be seen by many as a supportive one. They are the spectators, the cheerleaders, the mothers and the wives. Their own athletic skills take a secondary place. Advertisers do not help in that they tend to reinforce this perception in the way they portray women.
Bigger events are often held for men and there are more of these for them to participate in. Less and smaller events for women means less reporting on the achievements of women athletes and increased difficulty in getting the attention of sponsors. Sponsors want to have as much coverage as possible for the money they invest.
Women are often perceived as much weaker than men and people still feel that certain activities like weightlifting are inappropriate for them. Data suggests that women actually experience just as many benefits to their health and self esteem from participating in sport as men. Certain activities like swimming, skiing and ice-skating show more of a balance when it comes to coverage but even when it comes to tennis and cycling, men still dominate.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
All of these factors create a vicious cycle and prevent progress from being made. However, there have been some interesting developments such as the sponsoring of a website by some sponsors of sport that is devoted to female athletes and their accomplishments. This is a step in the right direction and hopefully the day will come when no-one has to suffer discrimination in any way when it comes to their participation in sport.
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