Running+like+a+girl+or+posing+like+a+girl?

Name: Karla Gumley Student number: n7554206 Tutor: Colleen Niland

TOPIC

Women in sport: Running like a girl or posing like a girl? How equitable is the playing field when it comes to women in sport?

PRESENT ARTEFACT

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The artefact chosen is a clip from youtube portraying 2 different images of each of the female athletes being shown, referred to the ‘top 10 hottest female athletes’. Female athletes such as Anna Kournikova, Maria Sharapova, Anna Rawson, Danica Patrick and more, all feature in this artefact and are all well known for their sporting talents but more recognised for their sex appeal. This artefact raises issues referring to how equitable the playing field is with women in sports and this connection to the media. Shown in this clip; is one image of the female athlete actually playing their professional sport and the second clip of each athlete; is an image of how they are portrayed to the media, exposing their body and filled with sex appeal but all still containing some form of equipment from their chosen professional sport.

PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

This artefact is just one example of representing how equitable the playing field is with women in sport and the connection between this and the media. Women’s sport media coverage is hard to gain and this leads to a growing concern that the media is influencing women to expose themselves to sexploitation and forcing the younger Australian population not to have any female sporting role models to look up to in the future. Not only can this lead to no positive role models but also a number of health concerns. Physical activity and sport are beneficial in a number of health aspects; prevention against disease such as; coronary heart disease, cancers, diabetes, obesity, stroke and many others. Not only is physical activity important for physical health in women but also in the positive effect against mental health illnesses. Such illnesses as; anxiety, depression, positive changes in mood and feeling of well-being, self-esteem and self-perceptions and also confidence (Bialeschki, D. M., 1999, p.37). These issues may seem far-fetched but is becoming more common to Australian’s female society.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Australian Culture is largely connected to our passion for sport. Whether it may be participating, coaching or simply a spectator, we can not deny the influence sport has on Australian society today. Sport was and still is to many seen as Australia's own 'national religion' (Annemarie Failla, 2011). If this is so, why is it that women across all media devices are struggling to gain the media coverage they deserve? The Australian Sports Commission (1997) undertook a survey revealing that women are severely lacking media coverage. Women's sports were covered 1.4% on Radio, compared too male sports at 95.1%. A low of 10.7% in newspapers compared to their male counterparts of 79.1% and lastly Australia's biggest media influence, television, with 2% coverage compared to males of 56.2%. There is a shocking truth that 90-99% of all sports media coverage is devoted to male sport (Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association, 2011). Not only are there the raw facts on women’s sport media coverage but The New South Wales Government (1997) have acknowledged the fact that “women have made a consistent and significant contribution to Australian sport at all levels, yet their achievements on the whole receive limited coverage by the mass media.” Also, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistic (2010), Men had a higher participation rate in both playing roles (24%) and non-playing roles (10%) than women (20% and 8% respectively).

Not only do female sports not get the right amount of media coverage but on television, they are not displayed on free-to-air television, only on digital television such as one, channel ten’s sporting channel, and never in prime time slots between 5-9pm (seen by investigating the various channels programs) (Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association, 2011). Media represents Australian society and social values and what exactly 'we' want to see, (Ian Constantine, 2007)and according to Australia’s media representation that is the obvious exploitation of sex appeal, otherwise known as sexploitation, of Australia’s elite female athletes. Female sports stars are not treated equally, the media exploit women of their talents for their aesthetic appeal and appearance deterring women away from participating. Female sport was and still is greatly focused on the costumes, sex appeal and off-field antics of the elite female sport stars rather than their sporting performances and accomplishments (Ian Constantine, 2007). Their costumes have become skimpier, tighter and more revealing as the years go on. These uniforms are not put in place to enhance the physical talents of the female sporting stars but to exploit them for their appearance. Women are not shown in action shots but in posed and perfect positions to make them look more aesthetically pleasing to the consumer.

A high media profile is essential for attracting sponsorship, spectators and other sources of financial support (Australian Government. Australian Sport Commission, 2011). But is sexploitation really the right way to go about it? Without a constant media display of women’s sport, the issue becomes apparent of women’s sport ever raising the bar and becoming equal with male sports. Ian Constantine (2007) suggests that “to change attitudes and the current structure we must first accept the inequalities faced by women. If they could be treated as a unique entity without constant comparisons with the male game, maybe then women would be accepted in contemporary society.” If media coverage of women’s sport is increased, it will have an adverse positive effect of participation rates and positive benefits of future female athletes.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Physical activity and sport are important for women and needs to be increased for future youths and adolescents. Social support and role models positively influence women’s participation in physical activity and sport but also needs to ‘be an increase in adequate female representatives and role models in physical activities and leadership roles’ according to Bialeschki, (1999, p.37). By increasing the number of positive female role models, it will allow women to have equal rights in sport. With a nation so supportive of equal rights, women’s equal rights in the sporting domain need to be acknowledged.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Physical activity and sport are beneficial in a number of health aspects; prevention against disease such as; coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, stroke and many others. Not only is physical activity important for physical health in women but also in the positive effect against mental health illnesses. Such illnesses as; anxiety, depression, positive changes in mood and feeling of well-being, self-esteem and self-perceptions and also confidence (Bialeschki, D. M., 1999, p.37). With physical activity and sport providing many benefits for women, positive media coverage, not sexploitation, needs to be increased to help promote women’s sport for a healthier, more equal Australia and to allow women to become part of Australia’s great sporting culture.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Numbers of women in sport and physical activity are increasing, especially over the last Twenty years. With this being said, there still is not enough media coverage and still no attention to the challenge in gender roles and gender inequalities (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p.1627). The world is still not comfortable with female’s challenging traditional notions of feminity and masculinity. Feminist’s ideas and thoughts have been combined in research that reveals ‘women and girls experience social backlash as they supposedly threaten the domain of the ‘strong’ sex’ (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p1627). This social backlash starts with unequal media cover and community support. Followed by, female athletes increasingly being sexualised by the media, local community and even themselves to minimize the threat they pose to traditional concepts of feminity and masculinity. Finally, female athletes are being portrayed as gaining sports opportunities at the expense of male athletes. A feminist legal theory of sports, Title IX, can help women and girls’ fight this backlash and gain the attention, respect and funding they deserve (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p1627).

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Campaigns and programs have already been put in place and are improving women’s participation and involvement with sport. This year, in 2011, Women’s Health Magazine, Channel 7 and Rexona teamed up to create the ‘I Support Women in Sport’ Campaign (Australian Women’s Health, 2011). With elite female athletes and feminists such as; Cathy Freeman and Steph Gilmore supporting this well know campaign, it has generated much needed success. The campaign is designed to generate ‘participation and recognition’ also to ‘celebrate women athletes whose achievements are often undervalued and unrecognized’ (Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association, 2011). It is a place to pledge support and to pledge to become involved with a sporting activity in 2011. The best way to help promote and support women in sport is spectating, live or on television, or to simply participate. This study is limited by the fact that majority of women who want to be involved with sport and feel passionate about the involvement are already involved with sporting activities in some way (Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association, 2011). It is not guaranteed to generate new comers to support women in sport.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANAYLSIS

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Women in sport can cause a lot of controversy about the way women should act, and women’s hegemonic masculinity. Sport has always been seen as a male’s domain; filled with rough antics and heroic scenes, and throughout all this, there was no room left for women. Women are traditionally at home to maintain the household chores and not to show any will or desire to be involved with physical activity or show signs of masculinity (Ian Constantine, 2007).

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over time women have begun to emerge into the sporting fields, with many accomplishing achievements, although many go underappreciated and unrecognized. It was and still currently seen that most women must expose themselves and reveal all to become successful (Ian Constantine, 2007). Still today, in our modern society, women are being sidelined in sport and not gaining the equal rights they deserve. In Australia, our culture and society rely heavily on equal education and equal rights but obvious lacking gender equality. The Marxist feminists’ believe that women deserve equal rights and believe in ‘social and economic equality’ (Rafter, N.H., 1981, p.81). As well as Title IX from the US, strives for a change in society such as women’s rights, in sport and the media, due to feminism (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p.1627). It is important to give women a chance, and simply, why not?

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Barriers need to be broken and override beliefs and current habits. By having equal rights instead of discrimination, which will allow women to benefit from social structure in society. Marxist feminism believes there should be a cease to sexualisation and sexploitation in articles and on magazine covers of elite female athletes, and to concentrate on the athlete’s talents and achievements (Rafter, N.H., 1981, p.85). Future female Australian’s need positive female role models to look up to. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in schools and equality in education, funding and resources (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p.1627).

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australia and public health experts need to focus on the equalization of gender stereotypes in sport and the media. By starting programs such as the GoGirlGo! Program in Australia and bringing in programs to get more children active in primary schools and across the board (Women’s Sports Foundation, 2011). Provide single sex sporting classes in primary and high schools across the nation (Smith, A. C. T., 2005, p.55). Increase the amount and quality of positive role models, whether it maybe teacher, parents, athletes or women in leadership roles (Bialeschki, 1999, p.37). Boost the amount of women’s sport being display and covered on free-to-air television (Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association, 2011). Allow women’s sport to have an increase in funding, sponsorship and resources and to not be subjected to sexploitation in an attempt to gain these (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p.1627). Also, to continue such programs as the ‘I Support Women in Sport’ campaign (Australian Women’s Health, 2011).

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Both Title IX and Marxist feminism have acknowledged it will take time for gender equality (Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports, 1997, p.1627), but it needs to be done, and started now. It would encourage promotion of women’s sports, gain media coverage and a boost in funding to occur. It will allow women an equal chance and to benefit in the social structure, as men have achieved in the past (Rafter, N.H., 1981, p.83). This is just the start to a healthier Australia. Allow women to become part of Australia’s ‘national religion’ (Annemarie Failla, 2011) and part of our great culture and society.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">ANALYSIS OF THE ARTEFACT AND OWN LEARNING REFLECTIONS

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The artefact chosen represents the sexploitation of elite female athletes. This particular clip reveals how female athletes are really being covered in the media. It shows the two sides to female sporting stars. One side where women actual are playing their professional sport and the other is how they are portrayed and sexploited in the media. Elite female athletes are being forced to reveal all just to gain a small amount of media coverage simply to gain sponsorship, funding and positive media coverage. This clip raises the issue of how equitable is the playing field with women in sports and this connection to the media, when women have to go to extraordinary lengths to gain a small amount of coverage. Being a female myself and also very passionate about sports and physical activities, it makes me disgusted at the inequality women are faced within the sporting and media worlds.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Throughout this assessment and my studies in PUB209 I have learnt that the world is faced with many issues. Gender serotypes and inequalities for women are a high issue in everyday life. Women involved in sport are not taken seriously. Women have to fight for the media coverage by exploiting themselves just to gain an inadequate amount of coverage. This is not fair and should be changed. In a Country that believes in equal rights and equal education, we should also believe in equal gender rights and to celebrate women for their sporting talents and achievements. In the future I will take Australian society and culture into more consideration as well as involving current equal rights and what exactly ‘should’ be changed for the better of Australian health, culture and society.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">DISCUSSIONS

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__Girl please! My mascara runs faster then you do__. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Great! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Great and creative title, it draws people in and made me especially want to read the as I found it very interesting. I am very passionate about women in sport and find that this artefact reveals just how shocking the truths behind women in sport really is. It comes to me as a huge shock that people can justify two of the top ten female athletes to be horses, and this wiki makes me question how society really views women and sport and how serious this issue is. This wiki is filled with great statistics and I believe high level of research to make this article so accurate. By reading this article I found out some information I did know about women in sport. Also, I did not know that horse racing received more air time the female sports. This is wrong, i believe women deserve equal rights to be part of Australia's national culture of sport, and this wiki helped get this point across well. Great Wiki! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">__'Children Waiting For The Day They Feel Good' - The Salience of Depression in Adolescence and Young Adulthood’__

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mad World!

<span style="color: #313131; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Great Wiki! The title draws people in as everyone can connect to being a child and possibly waiting for that happy day. Great artefact as well. Using such a well known song known to represent mental illnesses and depression is a great way to get the message across. Before reading this wiki I did not know that the rates for depression and mental illness were so high and dramatically influencing Australia I also did not know the high numbers leading to extreme cases and this is a great wiki to help get some incentive to back this issue. This wiki reveals to me a high level of research to come up with the accurate statistics and knowledge. Although this is a very sad and unfortunate issue, it is great to see some support behind such devastating illnesses and to help adolescents and young adults of the future to overcome them. It is great to see that there have been improvements especially when you stated that it impacted on one's quality of later life. This wiki is great and is great to get behind this illness to help make a healthier Australia. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">REFERENCES

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Annemarie Failla. (2011). The Evolution of Women in Sport. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010). Perspectives on sport: Women in sport. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Government. Australian Sport Commission. (2011). Media. Retrieved from: [|http://www.ausport.gov.au/participating/women/resources/issues/][|media]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Women’s Health. (2011). I Support Women in Sport. Retrieved on 3rd November, 2011, from []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association. (2011). AWRA Advocate – February 2011 – I Support Women in Sport Campaign. Retrieved on 3rd November, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Australian Women Sport and Recreation Association. (2011). Media: Women’s Sport and the Media. Retrieved on 5th October, 2011 from <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">[]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bialeschki, D. M. (1999). Physical Activity for Women. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 7 (3), 36-39. Retrieved on 3rd November, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cheering on Women and Girls in Sports. (1997). Harvard Law Review, 110 (7), 1627. Retrieved on 3rd November, 2011 from []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ian Constantine. (2007). Women Disadvantages in Sport – The Stats, The Figures and the Inequality. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">New South Wales Sport and Recreation. (1997). Media Coverage of Women in Sport. Retrieved from 5th October, 2011, from: [|www.dsr.nsw.gov.au]

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rafter, N.H. (1981). Marxist Feminism: Implications for Criminal Justice. Crime and Delinquency, 27 (1), 81-98. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Smith, A. C. T. (2005). Junior Sport Participation Programs Australia. Youth Studies Australia, 24 (1), 54-59. Retrieved from : []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Women’s Sports Foundation. (2011). Go Girl Go!. Retireved on November 1st, 2011, from []