Gender equality in sport has come a long way but it still has a long way to go. Gender discrimination in sports media is one of the reasons why this type of inequality still exists. Big corporate sponsorships and the attitude of the fans are other factors. Without the fans, the teams would not be watched, money would not be made and sport would not be what it is today. It is still true today that while nearly half of the participants in physical activities are women, they receive only a small percentage of coverage in major newspapers and other media.
Money talks and this is where the disparity can easily be seen. Men still win more prize money for winning events and receive more money for endorsements from sponsors. Even the colleges offer more athletic scholarships to men.
Power, strength and speed is associated with men and they can express their physicality in sport. Reporting on men in basketball, hockey and football has reached great heights and much coverage is given to stars. Today women athletes achieve some amazing goals in sports too but unfortunately when it comes to coverage of this, their achievements are not as well recognized.
This is perhaps due to the fact that perceptions need to change. The role of women still seems to be seen by many as a supportive one. They are the spectators, the cheerleaders, the mothers and the wives. Their own athletic skills take a secondary place. Advertisers do not help in that they tend to reinforce this perception in the way they portray women.
Bigger events are often held for men and there are more of these for them to participate in. Less and smaller events for women means less reporting on the achievements of women athletes and increased difficulty in getting the attention of sponsors. Sponsors want to have as much coverage as possible for the money they invest.
There are many areas where women are just as successful as men because the sport does not rely on stamina and power alone. Reporting on swimming, cycling and ice-skating does seem to reveal more balance when it comes to reporting on women than others like wrestling or endurance marathons. However, even a sport like tennis where some women are extremely successful, still shows disparity.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
There are even fewer large sporting events for women due to less money being available from sponsors for such events. It is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Perceptions need to shift so that women can receive the coverage they deserve. There is some progress being made as people realize the issue needs to be addressed. Some large corporates have sponsored a website devoted to women athletes and their exploits. This is an indication that changes are on the way and there is hope that eventually all participants in sports will receive the same respect.
Money talks and this is where the disparity can easily be seen. Men still win more prize money for winning events and receive more money for endorsements from sponsors. Even the colleges offer more athletic scholarships to men.
Power, strength and speed is associated with men and they can express their physicality in sport. Reporting on men in basketball, hockey and football has reached great heights and much coverage is given to stars. Today women athletes achieve some amazing goals in sports too but unfortunately when it comes to coverage of this, their achievements are not as well recognized.
This is perhaps due to the fact that perceptions need to change. The role of women still seems to be seen by many as a supportive one. They are the spectators, the cheerleaders, the mothers and the wives. Their own athletic skills take a secondary place. Advertisers do not help in that they tend to reinforce this perception in the way they portray women.
Bigger events are often held for men and there are more of these for them to participate in. Less and smaller events for women means less reporting on the achievements of women athletes and increased difficulty in getting the attention of sponsors. Sponsors want to have as much coverage as possible for the money they invest.
There are many areas where women are just as successful as men because the sport does not rely on stamina and power alone. Reporting on swimming, cycling and ice-skating does seem to reveal more balance when it comes to reporting on women than others like wrestling or endurance marathons. However, even a sport like tennis where some women are extremely successful, still shows disparity.
Women in sport are also affected by sexual innuendos. This is not helped by the fact that articles in magazines often do not only dwell on their sporting abilities but often discuss their appearance as well and other factors unrelated to their achievements.
There are even fewer large sporting events for women due to less money being available from sponsors for such events. It is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken. Perceptions need to shift so that women can receive the coverage they deserve. There is some progress being made as people realize the issue needs to be addressed. Some large corporates have sponsored a website devoted to women athletes and their exploits. This is an indication that changes are on the way and there is hope that eventually all participants in sports will receive the same respect.
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