I+can't+see+you+play,+in+all+those+clothes

Name: Kirsten Fowler Number: 8290881Tutorial: Wed 4-5


 * // I Can’t see you play, in all those clothes!!!!! //**

Lingerie Football League — a form of American “football” The American Lingerie Football League is a serious and competitive game played by trained sports women. However it is difficult take them seriously as they depict themselves as sex objects for men to ogle at, or do they wear this provocative outfit in order to get media attention?

Australia obesity rate is on the increase, obesity brings with it serious health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and can contribute to cancer. Healthy eating and increased physical activity help to maintain a healthy body. So it is incredibly important for us to educate young boys and girls on the importance of healthy leaving and increased physical activity at an early age. At the moment it appears that girl’s participation in physical activity and team sports tends to drop during adolescence, this reluctance to participate is due to several factors which contribute to lower physical activity, commonly observed in young females, these include a lack of motivation, low self esteem, which is significantly declined during this developmental period, increased worry about body image, a lack of interest and enjoyment and a lack of athletic competence. These issues need to be addresses promptly, there needs to be an equal playing field for men and women and sexism amongst genders needs to be diminished. Having female athletes (who are seen as role models for younger girls) ‘striping off’ for media coverage creates a lot more issue amongst young girls, (body issues, seeing sex sells, their body is just an object for men to ogle at). If not addressed these issues may lead to body image insecurities, depression and potential feeling of inadequacy.
 * Public health issue**

Media coverage of women’s sport is at a constant low, it seems that media constantly, and across all platforms present sports as the purview of men. Several studies have shown women athletes to be greatly underrepresented in sports media coverage. Greer & Harding, concluded that the most popular spectator sports are those which are considered masculine, although the shift of girls and women into varying sports that aren’t considered “feminine” has been phenomenal. Nowadays females participate in virtually every type of sport, even those thought to be masculine, in America there are several professional women’s football leagues since 2000 (Greer & Harding).
 * Literature review **

Women participating in sport have come a long way, the numbers of girls and women in sport has grown dramatically, considering in 1972, 1 in 27 girls played high school sports, by 1998 1 in 3 participated (Greer & Harding). According to the Australia Bureau of statistics there now seems to be equal participation of male and females in sport. It seems that the most growth in women’s sports participation is that which is considered to be neutral (neither masculine: Rugby or feminine: Gymnastics). According to Greer and Harding the most common university sports for women are volleyball, soccer, tennis, track and field, golf, swimming and basketball, none of which are aesthetically orientated, the authors also noted that university aged women who distinguished a sport to be ‘gender neutral’ were more confident about participating, than those who perceived a sport to be masculine.

In 1965 the discipline of physical education was becoming more academic and theoretically orientated this allowed a scholarly approach to the study of women in sport, before the symbolic and representation of literature entered sport (Bandy). It was perceived that “the feminine image in sport” created a notion that there were appropriate sporting activities for women, as Brady states “foreshadowing the feminist critique of sport that was to come.” In the early days when girls were given the same freedom to play, climb trees, swim and wrestle around they proved to be just as physically capable as the boys (Brady).

It still seems to be a man’s terrain when it comes to sports media coverage, Cunningham, George & Sagas write televised sports have a ‘manhood formula,’ sport belongs to men; aggression is essential to sports and masculinity; and that violence is often necessary and natural. These ‘formulas’ are often depicted in televised sports such as football; extreme sports basketball and Sports Centre programs, with their additional commercials. What hope do female athletes have for media coverage, unless they are ‘scantily clad’ or breaking world records, their air time is minimal (Cunningham, George & Sagas).

Issues around sex and gender diversity are well known in all organisations, but especially pronounced in the sporting world, no matter the race, ethnicity, religion; age or ability there is a strong division. Sports organisations are places that reproduce traditional gender roles, males seem to have privilege and dominance. Pfister & Radtke conduct research and find that the macro level researchers are worried about the structural and institutional elements that form the production and reproduction of gender. Meso level: tends to focus on the organisational level and studies the contributions that organisations make the “(re)production of gender,” and the micro level focuses on the individual coaches and organises within sport organisations (Pfister & Radtke)

It appears that gender recognition is bestrode on us at birth, we are given names and treated in particular ways, dressed in blue for boy and pink for girls these reflect social constructions of gender (Greer & Harding). Kolnes explains that the creation of heterosexuality as an organising principle in women’s sport is a difficult process that involves many factors: elite female athletes are exposed to constraints and paradoxes. They can take part in elite sports, so long as it doesn’t weaken their heterosexual attractiveness, sexual standards of feminie attractiveness remind sports women that to be acceptable, they must monitor their behaviour and appearance at all times (Kolnes). Bandura’s social cognitive theory helps to explain socialisation factors, he states that “behaviour, environmental events and cognitive factors operated to shape attitudes and actions” (Greer & Harding). Individuals consider actions and their outcome, producing consequences and adjusting accordingly. Greer and Harding stat that therefore action is not a result of “imprinted histories” as much as it is a result of “cognised futures.” Using Bandura's (1986) social learning theory, “mediated images are more inclusive of women in a variety of sports, rising participation rates by women in sports and fitness activities will do little to change traditional gender-typing” (Greer & Harding). It seems no matter what women do, how they strive for equality in schools, businesses and careers, equality in sport seems to be the one thing they cannot achieve. Sport appears sport is still a influential mechanism by which male hegemony is constructed and reconstructed (Cunningham, George & Sagas)
 * Culture and social analysis**

It appears no matter the accomplishments of female sports stars, the recognition is only really gained once they strip off for the cameras. Understandably it seems that ‘sex sells,’ but is this something that females sports stars are subjected to in order to get recognition for their sporting achievements, or to get a mention in the media? This is definitely something that needs to be addressed in the immediate future. I found this topic very interesting and informative there is so much written about women in sport, their inequality in the media coverage, being seen as sex symbols and lack of recognition for their achievements. It’s a pity that although there is so much being said about this topic, there does not seem to be much being done about the issue.
 * Analysis of the Artefact and Learning Reflections**

Bandy, S (2005). From Women in Sport to Culture Critique: A Review of Books About Women in Sport and Physical Culture. //Women's Studies Quarterly;// 33, 1/2; ProQuest Central pg. 246. Retrieved from[]
 * References**

Hinds, R (09/06/2010). TV perv-fest puts blinkers on women’s sport. Retrieved from:[]
 * Greer, J.D. & Harding, M. (2009). The Influence of Gender-role Socialization, Media Use and Sports Participation on Perceptions of Gender-Appropriate Sports. //Journal of Sports Behaviour.// 32(2) 207-227. Retrieved from** []

Kolnes, L. J (1995). Heterosexuality as an Organizing Principle in Women’s Sport. //International Review for the Sociology of Sport// 30(61) DOI: 10.1177/101269029503000104 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). //Feature Article 3: Women in Sport//. Retrieved from [|www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4156.0.55.001Feature+Article3May]

Cunningham, George & Sagas (2007). Gender and Sex Diversity in Sport Organizations: Introduction to a Special Issue. //Sex Roles//. 58:3-9. DOI 10.1007/s11199-007-9360-8

Pfister, G & Radtke, S (2009). Sport, women, and leadership: Results of a project on executives in German sports orginizations. //European Journal of Sport Science//. 9(4), 229-243. Retrieved from []