Women+talking+sport!?+Get+back+to+the+kitchen!

// “The triumph cannot be had without the struggle. And I know what struggle is. I have spent a lifetime trying to share what it has meant to be a woman first in the world of sports so that other young women have the chance to reach their dreams” // Wilma Rudolph.
 * Are we really Playing fair? The reality of being a woman in a male dominated profession.**


 * Name:**Nastassja Milevskiy
 * Student Number:** 8305064
 * Tutor:** Coleen Niland

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 * Cultural Artefact **

Society portrays the abilities of female athletes in varying, but often-negative ways. An example of society’s mixed beliefs about these women is 'Make Yourself', a 2011 Nike Women commercial featuring seven elite female athletes. This advertisement displays these athletes wearing tight and revealing clothing whilst demonstrating their astounding abilities, effectively encapsulating both their beauty and their pure strength and athleticism.

To determine how equitable the playing field is when it comes to women in sport, research discussing the treatment of women within the sporting media, and how this translates into a public health issue for society will be presented in this analysis. These issues include the treatment of women employed in sports media, the relative time and space of the media dedicated to female athletes, the over-sexualisation of female athletes. These issues are important because the resultant of overly sexualized images in the media can often be lowered self-esteem, body image, and eating disorder tendencies among female adolescents in wider society. (Kim & Lennon, 2007)
 * Public Health Issue **


 * Literature Review **

// 1921. The historic year in which women gained approval to compete competitively in athletics. (Mewett, 2003) But have we really come that far in the sporting world since? //  Recent articles discuss the disparity between male and female sportscasters and the impact in which it has on how sporting women are presented in the media, and ultimately, how the public then perceives these women.

Qualitative research into the treatment of women employed by the sports media, specifically female commentators was examined in a study by Grubb and Billiot (2010) These authors examined a number of studies discussing the role of affirming masculinity that sports has to males, and the emergence and subsequent treatment of female commentators. Grubb and Billiot began by discussing the emergence of female commentators in sport in the 1950’s, in which they were hired for their potential to attract ratings through their ‘ability’ to be viewed as a sex symbol. As time elapsed, female commentators began to be hired for their sporting knowledge. However, this change was limited, as 60 years of women’s participation in sport commentating hadn’t affected the views held by wider society. The authors discovered that those who are more preferred by the public as sports commentators possess athletic (read: masculine) traits. These traits are quite obviously difficult for women to posses, and have consequently affected the way in which they have been treated by society. Upon conducting their research, the authors discovered the difficulties that women commentators face whilst undertaking their jobs, include sexual harassment, being challenged on their credibility, and assumed that sexual advances had ensured their position in their chosen field. The effect in which this had on female commentators was not discussed, nor if it was occurring in other areas of the sports media.

This effect was addressed by Hardin & Shain (2005), who researched the effects of these factors on women in all areas of the sports media by asking qualitative questions to women who worked in sporting departments across the United States of America. The authors discovered that as of 2005, only 11% of employees in sports departments were female, with 50% of these women having received on the job discrimination, and 48% of these women being sexually harassed. The authors then realized it was necessary to determine the effects this had on these women. It was discovered that 72% of women employed within the sports media have considered leaving their jobs. Women clearing are facing both significant discrimination and marginalization in sporting departments, and in this article it is unclear whether this marginalization actually effects what is presented to us (being the general public) in our newspapers, and on our television screens.

This limitation was addressed by research conducted by Huffman and Tuggle (2004) into the correlation of the percentage of men in sports departments, and what images and stories resulted within the media. The authors researched varying American College media sources, taking note of the number of male sports reporters in the department, and the amount of time and/or space that male athletes received in the correlating media. These results indicated that these two factors directly correlated with one another. It was found that the average number of male sports reporters in the departments (~74-78%) correlated with the average amount of time and/or space that male athletes received within the college media (~72-81% of total coverage), despite females making up an total of 42% of all college students. This huge disparity indicates that females are not receiving equal status and treatment in sports departments as employees is reflective of an underrepresentation of sporting women appearing within the media.

Research conducted by George, Hartley and Paris (2001) also concluded that significantly less coverage of women athletes appeared within the media. Their research also investigated the type of coverage that women recievied within the media. The authors discovered that when reporting on female athletes, media sources tended to emphasize both their sexuality and physical attributes through both their choice of image and language. The authors did not comment on the effect in which this could have on both female athletes, and wider society.

A report produced by the Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretary (2007) analyzed many different articles on the issue of women, gender equality and sport. An aspect of their analysis focused on the effects of underrepresentation of sporting women in the Australian media. Consistent with research conducted by George, Hartley and Paris (2001), the authors discovered that female athletes were forced to find other ways to ensure remuneration and coverage of their chosen sport as a result of not receiving adequate attention within the media. The authors found that female athletes used their attractiveness and femininity to diminish their own accomplishments and reinforce the typical gender stereotypes of women being sexual objects in order to generate attention. This was evident in 2000, when the Australian Women’s Soccer Team, the Matildas, created a nude calendar in order to generate publicity, with many sporting teams subsequently following in their footsteps. Furthermore, sportswomen feel the need to wear excessively tight clothing to accentuate their innate qualities, and attract further attention. The authors concluded that although female athletes do generate more money and sponsorships through their actions, their sexualization diminishes their accomplishments, positively influences gender stereotypes and reinforces the sexualized image of women, which, is harmful to all women.

Research conducted byKim & Lennon (2007) found there was a positive association between the images that appear within media outlets, and overall appearance dissatisfaction and eating disorder tendencies. Furthermore, the authors found that these were associated with low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and overall appearance dissatisfaction.

As can be seen in the literature review presented above, society and culture both play major roles in the sexualization of women in sports. Feminist movements in society have seen women gaining more rights over time, but unfortunately society’s view on women’s participation in sport still reinforces traditional gender stereotypes.
 * Cultural and Social Analysis **

The evidence has illustrated that the current attitude that society holds towards women’s participation in sport – particularly at the elite level – encourages the sexuality of these women within the media, and as a result, has extremely detrimental effects on the main consumers of these media outlets – adolescent women.

Outside the sporting domain, our culture continues to support the promotion of women using their sexuality to create success. Western society is filled with women, such as Kim Kardashian, who have found success through presenting themselves in an overly sexualized way. It is almost a guarantee that Kim Kardashian would never have amounted to the astounding level of success if she were wearing an oversized jersey with baggy shorts.

As a result of our culture, sporting women, such as the Matildas then feel the need to sexualize their image in order to become noticeable to the public. The media is then filled, to an even larger extent, with women who have created success through sexualizing their image.

Nike has tried to change this, with ads promoting women’s sporting abilities as a pathway to success over their sexuality. This has somewhat influenced attitudes, but unfortunately does not reach as wide an audience as the magazines, billboards and television outlets that depict images of overly sexualized athletes.

According to a study conducted by Stice and Whittington (2002), 25% of females have clinical levels of body dissatisfaction, which is closely associated as an almost ‘prerequisite’ to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa.

As stated above, Kip and Lennon (2007) discovered that these images of overly sexualized women appearing in the media are only perpetuating the incidence of extreme body dissatisfaction among these adolescents.

It is important for Public Health experts to focus on the area of sexualization of women in the sporting realm to encourage these athletes to promote healthy, active lifestyles, without creating a near impossible sexualized image that adolescents strive to achieve.

This is one small step of many to come that will eventually lead the way allowing the public to enjoy women’s sport because of the skill, not the eye-candy, and as a result, slowly diminish the sexual image associated with women in sport, improving the working lives of women employed within the sports media, and discouraging the promotion of sexualized images of women to the public.


 * Analysis of the artefact **

This video focuses predominately on the athletic features of these elite female athletes. In today’s society and culture, as stated above, it is common for women to be presented in magazines by highlighting their assets (e.g. their breasts). This video does not focus on the athletes’ “physical” qualities, but rather the athletic, muscular body in which they have strived so hard to achieve. As stated above, men are often depicted in active poses, and this video also shows women being depicted in active poses, which is uncommon. However, one thing that must be taken into account is the choice of clothing. As stated above, the World Health Organization believes that tight clothing worn by women encourages the promotion of sexualization in wider society, and in this clip, all of the athletes are wearing extremely tight and revealing clothes, which is consistent with the way that sporting women are currently represented by the media. (Division for the Advancement of Women Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretary, 2007) Overall, this video highlights the fact that Nike believe that female athletes should be taken seriously, as they work hard to achieve the phenomenal feats that they do, but at the same time, that tight and revealing clothing is still necessary in order to attract attention and gain an audience.

As a result of this assessment piece, I have realized just how much a massive and almost cyclical impact the sexualisation of sporting women has on Australian society. Most interestingly, that sporting women are willing to sell their sexuality, rather than their athletic abilities in order to be noticed by the public. Before this assignment I really did not have much of an idea as to the extent that culture and society can affect public health, and as a result, I will ensure that my future learning and research process includes consideration of the huge impact in which culture and society has on all aspects of life, in particular, public health.

=Reference List=

Burke, M. (2001). //SPORT AND TRADITIONS OF FEMINIST THEORY.// Retrieved from Victoria University: http://wallaby.vu.edu.au/adt-VVUT/uploads/approved/adt-VVUT20040212.121335/public/02whole.pdf

Division for the Advancement of Women Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. (2007, December). Women, gender equality and sport. Retrieved from United Nations: []

Flintoff, A., & Scranton, S. (2002). Sport Feminism: The contribution of feminist thought to our understanding of Gender and Sport. In A. Flintoff, & S. Scranton, Gender and sport: a reader (pp. 30-47). Oxon: Routledge.

George, c., Hartley, A., & Paris, J. (2001). The representation offemale athletes in textual and visual media. //Corporate Communications: An International Journal//, 6(2), 94–101.

Grubb, M. V., & Billiot, T. (2010). Women sportscasters: navigating a masculine domain. //Journal of Gender Studies//, 19(1), 87-93. doi:10.1080/09589230903525460

Hardin, M., & Shain, S. (2005). Female Sports Journalists: Are We There Yet? No. //Newspaper Research Journal//, 26,4 (22-35).

Huffman, S., & Tuggle, C. (2004). How Campus Media Cover Sports: The Gender-Equity Issue, One Generation Later. //Mass Communication and Society//, 7 (4), 475-489.

Kim, J., & Lennon,S.J. (2007). Mass media, self-esteem, body image, and eating disorder tendencies. //Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 25//, (1), 3-23. doi: 10.1177/0887302X06296873

Mewett, P. G. (2003). Conspiring to Run: Women, their Bodies and Athletics Training. //International Review for the Sociology of Sport//, 38 (3), 331-349.

Nike Women. (2011). Nike Women, Make Yourself Athlete Team.

Ross, S. R., & Shinew, K. J. (2008). Perspectives of Women College Athletes on Sport and Gender. //Sex Roles//, 58, 40-57.

Roth, A., & Basow, S. A. (2004). Femininity, Sports, and Feminism : Developing a Theory of Physical Liberation. //Journal of Sport & Social Issues//, 28 (3), 245-264.

Stice, E., & Whitenton, K. (2002). Risk factors for body dissatisfaction in adolescent girls: A longitudinal investigation. Developmental Psychology, 38(5), 669-678.


 * Page**: "Why Did Granddad Kill Himself Mum?"


 * Title**: Wow! Very interesting...

Wow! I really found your topic to be extremely interesting and thought provoking. I was slightly aware that suicide did occur in the elderly, but to be honest I thought that the elderly had the lowest rates of suicide in the community. You said that those most likely to commit suicide in the elderly population had depression, but that physical health issues, chronic pain, grief, loneliness, isolation, alcoholism and loss of independence are also contributing factors, but do you think that these factors also play a part in contributing to depression as well? (Especially the grief from becoming widowed)

Your paper really made me think about how I look at the elderly, and to keep a close eye on the mental and physical state on those around me.

Nastassja


 * Page**: "Generation Why"


 * Title**: Very interesting topic and a great artefact!

I really enjoyed reading your report on binge drinking in Generation Y. I particularly found it interesting that Generation Y is the first generation to have permissive parenting, and that this could in fact contribute to this the sudden prevalence of binge drinking. I remember going through the trauma approaches to encourage us to not drink, and as a result i think that it will be especially interesting in the coming years to see the longitudinal effects of the trauma approach. It will also be interesting to note the physiological, psychological and social effects over time of the actual binge drinking.

Nastassja