Sport Feminism: The Contribution of Feminist Thought to our Understanding of Gender and Sport - Scraton & Flintoff
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Gender and the Technology of Sport Katlin & Ashley
Katlin and Ashley began their presentation with an exercise asking the class to think of words to describe attributes associated with athletes. Many people suggested words like "strong", or "aggressive". They then explained how the language in sports culture is gendered male and that sports are primarily made by and for men. Women are not giving equal opportunity to participate in organized sport, and when they are it is usually in an all women's league. They presented the class with the Nike commercial I have posted above. The commercial shows young girls validating why they should be allowed and encouraged to participate in sports. Playing sports provides many positive benefits to young girls, providing them with confidence and a sense of strength. Encouraging women to participate in the sports industry could eventually neutralize the gender differences and influence the industry in a positive way. As is, sports remain predominantly male oriented, female athletes are commonly expected to look provocative as a way to capture the male audience. The focus should instead be on their strength, skill and overall ability to preform as an athlete as opposed to being an object of visual consumption.