women!+sport!+equal???

Student number: N8104093 Name: Craig Barrett Tutorial: Friday 10-11am Katie Page

This artifact is a photograph of a hockey player half naked in the kitchen trying to look after a baby and care for the family by cooking dinner and cleaning the house all at the same time. There is a vacuum cleaner in the corner and dinner is cooking in the pan, a baby is being held on her hip and there is bags of groceries on the bench. Her hockey stick is sitting on the bench but it is not receiving any attention because of the obvious family commitments. This artifact was chosen because of the way it highlights many different topics to do with women in sport in one photograph (these are discussed in the artifact analysis).
 * Artifact **

The public health issue that this artifact represents is that there is no equality when it comes to males and females in sport and this is caused by a number of factors such as, sport being seen as a masculine activity, the way the media shape sport around men, the lack of female role models as referees, coaches, club managers, and the poorly portrayed attitudes about women in sport. These are very serious issues because they can cause a decrease in the participation rates of girls and women in sport and by decreasing rates of physical activity it increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (WHO 2002). The Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that across all age groups boys had higher participation rates (69%) in organized sport than girls (54%).
 * The Public Health Issue **

There are many crucial points that have been discovered through researching this topic that are extremely important and can be used to help decrease the inequalities that women and girls in sport have to currently live with. All the evidence that has been found through reviewing many forms of literature throughout this assessment can be used to help implement strategies and put policies and procedures into place that can be consistently monitored in order to ensure that women in sport will receive the same opportunities and treatment that men receive.
 * Literature Review **

Over the past 10 years research suggests that there has not been much of an increase at all in the participation of women in sport and it is certain that women continue to be largely out numbered in all aspects of sport, e.g. referees, coaches, club managers etc (Australian Sports Commission 2003). However participation rates have shown an all time high (Acosta and Carpenter 2006). This is slightly reassuring because even though sport participation rates for females are not equal to that of males it is definitely a positive sign to know participation is improving, and physical activity participation levels are now equal between men and women (ABS, 2006).

There is still a very large gap in the exposure women’s sport receives in comparison to men. Australian television coverage of live games and news/current affairs on sport give only 9% to female sports (ABS, 2006). This does not send a message of encouragement for women to be involved in sport. This lack of coverage and support is thought to be due to biological differences according to Phillips and colleagues (1999).

Some methodologies that are being used to eliminate the poorly portrayed attitudes about women in sport and to increase participation rates of women in sport include developing strategies, identifying barriers and designing policies based on these strategies and barriers. Some examples of these strategies include: - increasing female involvement, influences and role models in all aspects of sport by encouraging female coaches, referees, club managers, players etc - promoting women in sport through the use of schools, media and community sports programs - educating both genders on the importance of women in sport - re-create the point of view that participating in sport is a manly “tough” thing to do - at schools have the girls help choose their sports uniform to get them excited and motivated about sport - increase the availability of female orientated sports as well as giving equal access to participate in all sports - the wider range of health benefits that sport has to offer should be taught at an earlier age. For example the link between physical activity and mental health.

Some examples of the barriers to female participation in sport as found by the National Womensport and Recreation Survey include: - 47% said lack of time due to family related commitments - 36% said lack of time due to work related commitments - 26% due to cost - 19% due to lack of childcare - 16% due to cultural barriers - 15% lack of transport - 13% non female environments - 10% timing of competition

The number one point here shows that 47% of women don’t participate in sport because of family related commitments, which is the perfect evidence to back up the artifact as this is exactly what is occurring in the photo.

An example of a policy being used as a form of methodology towards addressing the equality issue is, The Australian Women’s Sport and Recreation Association (AWRA) Equality Policy. The AWRA have designed a number of policies that involve providing leadership, coordination, support, advocacy and influence on equality matters within sport and recreation, especially in relation to gender equality, while recognising and celebrating the diversity of women. The Equality Policy has been produced to guide AWRA to prevent any discrimination, cultural insensitivity or unfair treatment, whether intentional or unintentional, direct or indirect, against its members, representatives, sports women and men, and partners.

These methodologies do have limitations such as the survey done on the barriers against participation did not take into consideration the views of teenage and adolescent girls who would have a entirely different list of barriers. The limitation to the AWRA equality policy is that it has no specific way of measuring the outcomes of the policy to find out if it is making a difference or not. This also makes it very difficult to make adjustments/changes when needed.

Society and cultural influences are crucial elements of analyzing the role of women in sport. There is a lasting opinion throughout many cultures that the gender roles of men and women are inflexible and unchanging, men as providers, women as nurturers. Foucault (1980) outlines that post structural feminism states that multiple femininities exist, and that gender roles are not in fact set (Houlihan, 2008). Modern Australian society is a clear example of this, with many women participating in sport and an increase of participation rates (ABS, 2009). Female participation in sports, which are historically ‘male’ dominated, such as rugby and cricket, are also on the increase and gradually becoming more socially acceptable. The assumption that an increase in female employment, participation in the workforce and the relative increase in financial independence as well as the blurring of gender roles has a significant impact on the role of women in sport.
 * Cultural and Social Analysis **

Feminist analysis allows the difference in gender roles in regards to capitalism, class and a historically male-dominated economy to explain the inequality between men and women in sport (Houlihan, 2008). The control that men have over the economy is relative to the dominant societal and cultural ideologies (Coakley, 2007). Marxist feminist theories regard the historically lower financial capacity of women and the limited time to participate in sport due to traditional “domestic commitments of a woman” as an insight into the historically lower participation level of women in sport (Coakley, 2007). Although Marxist feminist theory and feminist analysis allows the past roles of women in sport to be analysed in regards to society and culture, these influences are ever-changing globally, as previously stated, the participation levels of women in sport are increasing as well as the decreasing definitive gender roles within our society.

Awareness of this issue is very important because unless people are aware of the problem then nothing can be done in order to resolve it. The inequalities that exist for women in sport should be discussed to not only raise awareness, but to educate people of both genders and all ages about the women in sport issue. Discussing and raising awareness to women in sport should also increase the amount of action taken to make this topic an issue of the past. For example it should increase the amount of research into this topic, increase media coverage and work towards recreating the poor perceptions many people have about women in sport.

Although there is a very diverse range of people that are affected by this issue including men and women, as well as people involved in sport and those who are not involved in sport, they are not equally affected. The people most affected are women and women involved in sport.

As a result of this analysis it is very evident that public health experts should focus on educating people about the inequalities that exist for women in sport and to develop strategies for increasing women’s involvement in sport, and policies should continue to be put in place to improve the current situation. These policies should constantly be reviewed and implemented accordingly in order to decrease the barriers for women’s participation in sport so that the playing field becomes equal for all.

This artifact represents the number one barrier against women participating in sport as found by the National Womensport and Recreation Survey, which found 47% of women not participating in sport because of family related commitments. For example, Because the hockey player in the photograph is to busy looking after a baby, preparing dinner for the family and cleaning, she is finding it extremely difficult to make it to her hockey game.
 * Artifact Analysis and Learning Reflections **

This artifact is also an excellent case in point for demonstrating the inequalities that exist for women in sport. It achieves this by highlighting how the media portray women as sexual objects and do not recognize them for there sporting abilities. This is shown because of the way the women in the photo is wearing only a sports bra and short shorts. The artifact also represents what can be considered female orientated roles such as cooking, cleaning and looking after children, which suggests that these are the activities women are supposed to be doing, not playing sport. This is made obvious by the way the hockey stick is receiving no attention whilst the rest of the jobs are receiving maximal attention.

As a result of this piece of assessment I have not only learnt a lot about the issue of women in sport but have also learnt the processes involved in learning, researching, finding and analysing literature on a topic and applying all the combined knowledge that has been learnt to create ideas that can be used to help address an issue and work towards creating strategies and policies to help improve and make a real difference towards a current issue that may exist in todays society.

Acosta and Carpenter, L. J. (2006). Women in intercollegiate sport: A longitudinal study- twenty nine year update- 1977- 2006. Unpublished manuscript, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
 * References **

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) Feature Article Three: Women in Sport. Retreived form []

Australian Government: Australian Sports Commission. (2003) Towards Better Sport. //Good Practices for Women and Girls in Sport.// Canberra, ACT: New Millennium Print

Coakley, J (2007) //Sport in Society: Issues and Controversies,// McGraw and Hill: New York, America.

Foucalt, M. (1980) ‘//Two Lectures in Power/Knowledge: Selected Interveiws’.// Colin Publications: New York, America.

Houlihan, B. (2008) //Sport and Society: A Student Introduction, Second Ed, Sage Publications:// London.


 * Reflections **


 * Women in Sport and Media**

This is an excellent choice of artifact that really highlights how female athletes are not recognised based on their performance as an athlete but how they gain instant recognition for being half naked. The analysis of the artifact is exceptional and shows you have a very good understanding of the women in sport issue and that a lot of thought was put into selecting this artifact.


 * Are you Sexy Enough for Sport?**

The public health issue you have selected is a very important issue that you have spoken about well throughout the entire assignment. You have proven to demonstrate very in depth knowledge of the way in which the media shape our perceptions of women in sport and how sex appeal can become the focus of female athletes. It was a pleasure reading this assignment, thank you.