There is a problem regarding gender equality in sport that still persists today. Gender discrimination in sports media is one of the culprits. However, the problem also exists because of attitudes of the corporate sponsors and the fans. The fans have to watch the games for sponsors to make money. Despite the fact that there are many excellent women athletes competing today, the coverage they receive from the media is insignificant when compared to the men.
Male athletes are still paid more than woman and win larger amounts of prize money. Colleges spend less of their operating budgets on female athletes and they get less in the way of athletic scholarships. Sponsors offer fewer endorsements to women than men.
The physical strength, power, speed, and size of male athletes is covered extensively in the press. The games they participate in like football, hockey and basketball boost ratings and the stars are given great status. Despite the fact that many women athletes are very successful, they do not achieve the same recognition.
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.
There are more men reporters than women and the women who do enter this profession often struggle. They are often faced with sexual remarks when trying to report on games. They have to have tough skins to make their way in this male dominated profession. Less female reporters also means less coverage of women and so sponsors are not as interested in supporting them.
Women are still perceived as being physically weaker than men, particularly when it comes to endurance activities such as marathons and weightlifting. However, there is no doubt from research that women athletes benefit from their activities just as much as men, enjoying significant health benefits. Reporting about activities like skiing and swimming are more balanced when it comes to women but even cycling and tennis is weighted in favor of men.
Sexual harassment is another issue affecting women in sport. Women reporters are often still subjected to sexual remarks when trying to report on events. Women athletes have remarks made about their figures rather than their abilities. The men making these kind of remarks tend to pass these attitudes on to their sons and so the cycle continues.
Fewer events seem to exist for women athletes and this means less media coverage, creating a vicious cycle whereby less sponsorship is received. Women are still hoping for a shift in perception so that they receive more coverage on the major networks. While there is a long way before this happens, some promising developments have taken place in the past couple of years. Establishment of an internet website looking at what female athletes excel in is a sign of progress.
Male athletes are still paid more than woman and win larger amounts of prize money. Colleges spend less of their operating budgets on female athletes and they get less in the way of athletic scholarships. Sponsors offer fewer endorsements to women than men.
The physical strength, power, speed, and size of male athletes is covered extensively in the press. The games they participate in like football, hockey and basketball boost ratings and the stars are given great status. Despite the fact that many women athletes are very successful, they do not achieve the same recognition.
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.
There are more men reporters than women and the women who do enter this profession often struggle. They are often faced with sexual remarks when trying to report on games. They have to have tough skins to make their way in this male dominated profession. Less female reporters also means less coverage of women and so sponsors are not as interested in supporting them.
Women are still perceived as being physically weaker than men, particularly when it comes to endurance activities such as marathons and weightlifting. However, there is no doubt from research that women athletes benefit from their activities just as much as men, enjoying significant health benefits. Reporting about activities like skiing and swimming are more balanced when it comes to women but even cycling and tennis is weighted in favor of men.
Sexual harassment is another issue affecting women in sport. Women reporters are often still subjected to sexual remarks when trying to report on events. Women athletes have remarks made about their figures rather than their abilities. The men making these kind of remarks tend to pass these attitudes on to their sons and so the cycle continues.
Fewer events seem to exist for women athletes and this means less media coverage, creating a vicious cycle whereby less sponsorship is received. Women are still hoping for a shift in perception so that they receive more coverage on the major networks. While there is a long way before this happens, some promising developments have taken place in the past couple of years. Establishment of an internet website looking at what female athletes excel in is a sign of progress.
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