Aggression: Women vs. Men in Sport

Recently at the 2009 United States Open, Serena Williams was disqualified due to verbally abusing the line judge. A New York Times article on September 15, 2009 comments on the incident saying , “What made many uncomfortable, beyond the tirade, is that Williams stepped so far outside of the box of acceptable behavior for female athletes. With one stunning outburst, Williams barreled into the hallowed Men Only Hall of Intemperance reserved for John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors and Ilie Nastase, great players who became legendary for their rampages against line judges, umpires and each other”. This statement supports preconceived expectation that women must not show aggression in competitive sports. For men it is shunned instantly but then praised over time. If a man shows aggression it enhances the facade of a powerful competitor. If a woman is to show aggression their actions can be perceived in several ways but all are negative. Her actions maybe seen as manly, out of control, showing poor sportsmanship, unfair, disappointing, etc. Her reputation will forever be changed from a skillful, talented African American women tennis player to an aggressive, out of control player. Or will she not? If she, over time, becomes famous and glorified for this act like John McEnroe or Jimmy Connors did; does that mean there is a shift in the ideology of females in sports? Is that a positive or negative aspect of forwarding women in sport? Are we seen as equal? Or is this considered a type of “reverse resistance”? Are we setting ourselves back as women as a result of going against the learned anti-aggressive stigma for female athletes? All of these questions are multi-dimensional and deserve much thought and consideration by all.

L.W.
Kin 338I sect 3023