Is Watching Gymnastics Worse Than Being An Nfl Fan?

Gender classification is a predominant topic within today’s sports and is most broadly understood through the portrayals of sports media. Through overt and covert ways, sports media has continued to promote a masculine representation of sports (Millington & Wilson, 2010; Messener, Duncan, & Jensen, 1993). By understanding the way in which sports media portrays sports, one can recognize how masculinity has dominated the world of sports. With the aid of two unique studies of sports media, this paper will critique the way in which media has effected the gendered depiction of sports.

While participation of women in sports has increased, the media representation of women in sports remains problematic. Even the most talented elite female athletes like Michelle Kwan and Monica Seles are portrayed in a sexual fashion, as a way of deemphasizing their athleticism and neutralizing any possible threat they might seem to pose to male viewers. Very few male athletes are portrayed in such an objectified manner; they are portrayed as competitors first and foremost, not as personalities. Also, the media coverage of athletes is disproportionately focused on male athletes. The coverage of female athletes tends to stress individualized female sports where women can be sexualized like tennis and figure skating, versus competitive team sports like basketball and soccer.

Traditionally women were viewed as equipped to participate in sports, and their involvement was viewed as unfeminine and undesirable. This Article Examples the women were viewed as unfeminine to the sports that men play and undesirable. Young girls who are given an early opportunity to participate in sports may be more prepared for the male in classrooms. Even though women have often been relegated to second-hand citizenship in the same socializing, integration, statues, and recognition that benefit male athletes. (By; Sandra L. Hanson)

Because sports are very important to many people, and have been since the days of the Romans, there is much pride and honor in sports; however, there is something that has tainted the image of sports and athletes alike:

Sports of old were merely competitive activities rooted in heroism and romanticism. Sports activities today, however, have no such innocence or simplicity. Currently in America, the activities that make up our sports culture is not only the competitive events themselves but the processes and issues that underlie and surround them. Entwined in our sports culture is the giant business of mass broadcasting. Indeed, sports and the media go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly, like Mickey and Minnie, Darth Vader and Luke. They are intertwined and depend on each other to continue to grow. Sports media includes television, radio, magazines, newspapers, books, films, and, now, most importantly, social media devices provided by the

The Olympics have not only been a prized achievement for many athletes throughout the years, but have been a huge influence of societies all over the world through producing viewpoints, social roles, and societal hierarchies. Observing the continuities and discontinuities within the Olympic games one can gain clarity on how past events still shape the present. Recently new rules set by the International Associations of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have declared that female athletes with abnormally high rates of testosterone must lower their hormone levels or be forced to compete with men. This rule amendment in women’s sports highlights only a small factor of how women have been segregated and discriminated against by a higher power. Through

In modern day America sports are a very important part of our culture, because we are constantly watching sports and participating in sports. In any sport we watch mythology is present. The very act itself of playing the sport is reflective of old roman times when gladiators would kill for the crowds entertainment although today instead of killing its by hitting a home run or scoring a goal. “At their best, sports are about the extraordinary capacities of the human spirit.”(Wolter). These athletes can become extremely popular to the point were they are viewed as superhuman just like in myths, and there is a reason because the best athletes in their respective sport do what no average person could do. “The most legendary performances speak of almost super-human feats: the sub 4 minute mile, Michael Jordan’s flu stricken playoff

A sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. Sports originated in early history as males only, and was often used to see which male was more dominant. In today’s society sports have a different meaning and is played by both genders, but still holds a mentality of superiority. In this essay, I will be arguing the Social Constructs of Masculinity in Sports in the language and the actions used when performing these activities through both genders and how some actions are acceptable for one gender and not for the other. Using Laurel Richardson’s article Gender Stereotyping in the English Language, and X: A Fabulous Child’s Story by Lois Gould. The article and story will help distinguish the use of words in our society and how they are incorporated in sport and how the actions of a person that does not fit the social standard faces repercussions for their actions.

Growing up my mother made my twin brother and I do gymnastics for a couple of years at a gym near our home town. Being so young I though nothing of it and that it was fun because I was swinging, jumping, and bouncing into foam pits. My brother and I looking back at it were some of the only guys in the gymnastics class as the girls predominately outnumbered the guys. This reminds me of the some of the articles we read earlier in the semester and how certain sports are labeled as male and female dominated. My brother and I were so young that we had no idea the difference between soccer or gymnastics was and were simply having fun without a care in the world. Gymnastics in the eyes of society is considered a more feminine sport because the athletes

Over the course of time, sports have come to signify masculinity; athletics such as football and basketball easily having come to deem where one fits in terms of societal norms regarding gendered bodies. One could argue that sports, in a modern context, have come to be synonymous with the idea of athletic and/or muscular bodies, which are those that are not regarded as the bodies of ideologically feminine ones given the intense and high pressure nature. In “Sports and Male Domination: The Female Athlete as Contested Ideological Terrain” written by Michael A. Messner in 1988 sheds light on the idea that traditional images of femininity have come to solidify male privilege through the construction and naturalization of gendered characteristics regarding women such as weakness, fragility and dependency .

Thus, Krane et al and Mennesson claim, that when discussing female athletes, a large amount of attention is paid to the athlete’s appearance instead of her athleticism. They reason that to some, it is imperative that women appear feminine while engaging in physically demanding sports. For instance, as Beki et al point out, rhythmic gymnastics is widely regarded as the utmost feminine sport and is one of two sports in the Olympics that does have competing male athletes. In rhythmic gymnastics, the winners are those with the most aesthetically pleasing performances. This performance includes the grace, attire, and body of the athlete.

Gymnastics can be a difficult sport in its self, let alone with all the extra added issues included. The judging system they have in this sport is pretty disgraceful which can sometimes push athletes to the edge. But also the positive changes that the gymnasts can make if they work as a team in the gymnastics community is what the sport is really about. This is shown in

Women are empowered, encouraged and even pressured into being involved in a sport or some type of fitness activities today; however, it hasn’t always been that way (Cahn 278). In the 1920s, also known as the “golden age” of sports, women and young girls faced obstacles such as rejection, gender discrimination, and stereotypes when showing interest in sports or fitness activities. One famous author named Susan Cahn, wrote a book called Coming on Strong: Gender and Sexuality in Twentieth-Century Women’s Sports, and focuses on the decades between the 1920s and the 1960s. For most of the 19th century, females were accused of causing a great deal of danger to the moral and physical areas of masculinity. Through the research of multiple different aspects, such as media, appearance, and gender roles, Cahn puts together an idea and theme that athleticism is seen as a masculine trait because it was once constructed by society itself; which fortunately for the women, that idea can be changed. In the later centuries, Cahn writes about the progress of woman 's appearance in sports, however then describes the difference in respect, attention throughout media, opportunities and wages between men and women. Through both primary sources such as newspapers, interviews, and journals, as well as secondary sources like relevant literature, Cahn writes her book in a historical non-fiction genre. After reading Coming on Strong: Gender and Sexuality in Twentieth-Century Women’s Sports by Susan

In 1996, Kerri Strug had a torn 2 ligaments in her ankle when doing vault in the Olympics. Not only did that hurt, but the had pressured her into doing vault a second time to “seal the gold medal”. Kerri ended up deciding she had to do it and ended up sticking it. However, Kerri had worsened her ankle and she had to stop her career for a while. The Olympics causes people to overthink things and be irrational, and if we can stop it, we can stop just some of these irrational things. If the Olympics causes people to hurt themselves because of the pressure of getting the precios gold medal, the athletes who train and put blood, sweat, and tears into their work will be let down and only be hurting

Within today’s society, sexual abuse scandals within sports are unfortunately becoming more and more common. They plague almost every sport but are more prominent sports like swimming, gymnastics, and more individualized sports. One of the most disturbing sexual abuse scandals is the USA swimming scandal that has resulted in over one hundred coaches being banned from the sport and numerous female swimmers living with unthinkable memories. People of the clubs or gyms where these athletes practice believe they know their staff, the athletes would speak up, and they would see signs if something is going on. However, they cannot imagine the extent of these horrendous experiences these young girls go through.