Men+Vs.+Women

Name: Tiffany Wong | Student ID: n8329923 | Tutor: Colleen Niland

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=** Men Vs. Women Challenge **= This cultural artefact is an advertisement created in 2009 promoting Nike’s men versus women virtual challenge; a battle of the sexes to see which sex can accumulate more miles. This commercial shows males and females running on the streets competing against each other whilst also showing a bit of rivalry. Instead of showing male as the athletically dominating sex, the women are also being portrayed in the same light, giving men a run for their money. Women are shown with equal potential to win this challenge. It shows the competitive and empowering spirit of each sex working as a team to out run the opposite sex.

The participation of women in sport has been a long controversial debate; it is a part of history marked by discrimination and division (Adriaanse, Fasting, & la Rivière-Zijdel, 2007). Unfortunately, to this day women still have limited opportunities to participate in many of the most popular and physically demanding sports, where most of the justifications for why women are not allowed to participate were based on false assumptions (Juggle, 2011). Women around the globe have made a significant and consistent contribution to sports at all levels in recent years, yet their achievements receive minimal coverage in the mass media. This inadequate and selective media coverage of women’s sports has led astray the authentic perception of women, harboring false ideologies (NSW Sports and Recreation, 1997). For instance due to the very few female sporting role models, young girls and boys have statistically shown to have limited participation and involvement in sport (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009), a trend that will continue to prosper if this issue is not challenged.
 * Public Health Issue **

Evidently there is a difference in amount of money invested into women’s sport compared to men’s sport (NSW Sports and Recreation, 1997), however the key issue is not the amount of money spent, but whether that money reflects the same quality of treatment for women as it does for men in sports. These differences in spending and investment alone illustrate the high value that institutions places on men’s sports than women’s sports (Brake, 2001). A good example of this issue is the disparities in rewards that males and female athletes receive for their participation in sport. No matter in professional or amateur sports, the value of prizes for winning competitors has shifted from trophies to money and has continued increasing in value, however the difference is that men have received more money than women and it is only until recent years exceptions have been made to bridge this gap. For the first time, the 2007 Australian Open Tennis Championships gave out equally valued prizes for winners of both sexes, this encouraging trend is now the norm for most Grand Slam tennis tournaments, though there are still many sports yet to follow this example (Huggins & Randell,2007). Disparities have also existed in the acknowledgments for sports success in the media. In the 1970’s, Commonwealth Schools Commission conducted a study of Social Change and the Education of Girls where the research tasks was to scrutinise the press for evidence of discrimination against women and girls in media coverage. In sports pages one glaring disparity was found; there was rarely a photo of a female sportsperson, their activities had less than 5% coverage in all of the sports news. Changes were made 30 years later and continuing today in Australia where women are much more visible in the press. This was due to the success Australian women had achieved on the world stage at the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and World Championships. However this accomplishment cannot be generalized to the rest of the world as many women still continue to face many of the same obstacles today as they have for centuries. The // New Times // for the month of March 2007 was reviewed in respect to gender coverage in sport and found that female athletes were mentioned in significantly fewer articles, comprising only a small portion of photographs, compared to male athletes. Only seven articles without pictures covered sports involving females, out of a total of 631, which is in retrospect only 1% of total coverage for women. Women athletes are simply not bestowed at the same level of publicity or visibility as men. This problem is not specific; it is almost considered universal; existing in developed and developing countries around the world that women are given less airtime on television and radio, receiving significantly less press coverage than men do. This seems hardly fair as women work equally just as hard as men in order to qualify and compete on a international level, yet they are not given the same recognition when it comes to publicity. Also receiving seldom offers for the lucrative product endorsement that male athletes receive. Undeniable news headlines, endorsement of various products, and in this globalized world, are recognized in the same light as celebrities worldwide. Their influence reaches to the ends of the earth, with children in rural villages using notebook and wearing T-shirts of Manchester and Arsenal football personalities, and being able to name their favorite player. These sporting figures serve as role models and idols for children worldwide, particularly during major sporting seasons like the World Cup; yet female athletes are noticeably missing in action. Due to minimal exposure to female sporting role models, girls don’t receive the fullest of aspiration to participate in sports. Consequently, girls are less inclined to benefit from the positive examples these potential women could serve, that are encouragement, inspiration, and exhilaration. A survey was conducted where 61% of girls questioned were not able to name a sportsperson at all, and those who could; only 19% mentioned women. Whereas 13% of boys couldn’t name a sporting figure, and those who were mention none were female (Hannan, 2006). When the International Olympic Committee and networks gave equal airtime and coverage to men and women’s events, there was a surge in women’s participation in sports in the following months (Higgs, Weiller, & Martin, 2003). Coincidence? In the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, where women comprised 40.7% of participants, in 2008 Beijing Olympics a record was made with 42% female participants (Feminist Majority Foundation, 2009). However some countries send fewer or even no women at all to such events. Though it is undeniable that girls around the world witnessing women excel and accomplish great things in gymnastics, running, skating, skiing and other numerous sports yet to name, they are encouraged with what women can achieve and inspired to participant in physical activities. Sport and masculinity have become so intertwined in culture that it would be difficult to conduct a reform in separating the two elements (Brake, 2001).
 * Literature Review **

Explicitly and inexplicitly, women face many barriers to participate in physical activities, preventing them from reaping many benefits from engaging in physical activities and competing in sports. Such as inspiration, confidence, a higher self-esteem, and a fitter and healthier body (Huggins & Randell,2007). The great controversy about allowing women to compete in sports events is closely connected with the stereotype views on the nature of women and the myth of the ‘weaker sex’. In the past this argument was wholly supported by mainstream medicine in the 1920’s, suggesting that forms of women’s physical culture were determined by their obligation to bear children and that physical activity such as competitive sports were not designed for such weak bodies (Adriaanse, Fasting, & la Rivière-Zijdel, 2007). Whilst also closely linked with the fear of women becoming more physically and psychically masculine, turning away from heterosexuality (Adriaanse, Fasting, & la Rivière-Zijdel, 2007). These stereotypes have haunted gender-based discrimination in physical education, recreational and competitive sports, organizations and sport media. There were still a considerable amount of discrimination between men’s and women’s, boy’s and girl’s sports in Australia in the 1940’s and through to the 1950’s where sports were very popular with boys in and out of school and girls were encouraged to engage in indoor activities such as reading and home duties (Huggins & Randell,2007). Crucial factors that prevent women and girls form competing in sport around the globe are cultural norms and religious reasons. In many cultures women have been educated and socialized to watch and cheer for the men on the playing field or to play feminine sports; for those females that do cross these gender lines and engage in sports that are considered masculine, like football maybe subjected to harassment (Huggins & Randell,2007). However women and girls do work towards breaking these barriers and ideologies by attempting to engage in a wider variety of sports. In this mist of settling this social dispute women may experience different forms of resistance imposed upon them by society. For instance, cultural and religious barriers in the Pacific and Asia forbid women and girls from wearing shorts and certain clothing, restricting their ability and comfort in physical activities. Similarly, in the Islamic culture it is conventional for females to wear long skirts, long sleeved tops, and behind their veils, if they are allowed to play sports at all (SAD Evaluation, 2006). In Africa and other developing countries, the responsibility and duty of household chores take priority and are often imposed on the females of the family; limiting the time and energy they have to engage in such activities. In fact, it is often due to the lack of time entwined with cultural and religious barriers that prevent many young women from participating in sport (Huggins & Randell,2007).
 * Cultural and Social Analysis **

In respect to this health issue, the Nike // Men vs. Women Challenge // advertisement promotes very a positive message about women’s physicality; breaking down the barriers and ideology that women are inferior to men when in comes to physical performance and competition. By representing women equally, with equal potential as men in regards to physical competence it supports this movement that women do too deserve the same respect and opportunity men receive in sports. On a personal note, I think this artefact is very inspiring to women, and that it also places a great amount of emphasis on the element of support and team work, demonstrating that it is important to work together if one is to achieve such gender equality on the playing field or anywhere else for that matter. I have learnt through this assessment that society places great value on conventional and cultural norms. However it is important for human growth and understanding to challenge these long existing ideologies and to question these values and rules we live by. For example, what grounds do these ideologies stand on, and is it still valid in this day and age. This will hopefully and eventually welcome open mindedness as we live in such diversity, a world that is filled with many different ethnicity, culture and personality.
 * Reflection **

Adriaanse, J., Fasting, K., & la Rivière-Zijdel, L. (2007). Women, gender equality and sport. // Women 2000 and Beyond. // Available from http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/public/Women%20and%20Sport.pdf.
 * Reference **

Australian Bureau of Statisitics. (2011). Children’s participation. Retrieved October 28th, 2011 from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/19BD2125C6A01444CA2578DC0001E519?opendocument.

Brake, D. (2001). The Struggle For Sex Equality In Sport And The Theory Behind Title Ix†. // University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform, // 34, 1-2.

Feminist Majority Foundation. (2009). Women in the Olympics. // Gender Equity in Athletics and Sports. // Available from http://feminist.org/sports/olympics.asp. Hannan, C. (2006). Challenging the Gender Order, // Opening Keynote Speech at the Fourth World Conference on Women and Sport //, Kumamoto, Japan, 11-14 May. Higgs, C. Weiller, K., & Martin, S. (2003). “Gender Bias in the 1996 Olympic Games,” // Journal of Sport and Social Issues //, 27(1), 52-64.

Huggins, A., & RandellS. (2007). The Contribution of Sports to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. // International Conference on Gender Equity //, presented on Sports for Social Change, Kigali.

Juggle. (2011). Women and Contact Sport. // Debate.org. // Available from http://www.debate.org/debates/Women-and-Contact-Sports/2/.

Mutara, E. and Chaka, I. (2007). “FIND TITLE,” // The New Times //, March 8, 2007 Issue.

NSW Sport and Recreation. (1997) infosheet, Media Coverage of Women in Sport. // www.dsr.nsw.gov.au //. Available from http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/assets/pubs/industry/info_mediawomen.pdf

SAD Evaluation. (2006). Gender, Sport and Development in Zambia. // Gender Equity, Sport and Development: Working Paper, // Swiss Academy for Development, 2005.

** Reflective Comments **

Get It Right Australia - Mental Health in Australia
Student Name: Kamila Radomska Student Number: 08091838 Tutor: Abbey Diaz

Thanks for that, a good read :) I do believe we (Australia) have made good progress towards this issue, however that being said there is still a long way to go! I do agree with what you said about Australia being an Individualistic nation; and how we deal with these mental disorders has been greatly influenced by the culture we live in. It's definitely time to adapt a collectivist culture and start caring for each other's wellbeing on less superficial level.


 * 'Gen Y gets lost in the realms of cyber space**

Name: Emily Smith Student Number: n7524862 Tutor: Colleen Niland

I agree with the points you put across, sadly cyber bullying is not such a hot topic yet so many lives are affected or even has ended because of it. A lot more awareness and publicity needs to be shed on this topic. In my opinion, I think that because Gen Y has been brought up in such a technology centred world we have learnt to place our security and identity in it; that is having Facebook, twitter, etc. to valid our importance and significance we have in this world. I don’t know about you, but when I forget my phone I find myself feeling unnecessarily ‘lost’ or moreover less secured.

Definitely something to ponder on. Thanks!