SEXISM IN SPORTS MEDIA

Sexism in the sports mediaTennis phenom Serena Williams was fined a record $82,500 in late November for her profanity-laced altercation with a line judge during the U.S. Open in September. Not only was Williams fined but she was also placed on two year behavioral probation as a result of the tirade. This blog is in no way excusing the actions of Serena Williams during the U.S. Open match. But instead I plan to use this common altercation as way to evaluate some of the gender role biases that we have in society which have emanated through the sports media we have today. I also plan to evaluate how we revere athletes for their drive and passion but yet when the passion is expressed in a way that is seen as inappropriate we ostracize the same athlete we once praised for their unrivaled fervor. Technology has allowed human error to be diverted in sporting events; with what seems to be an endless amount of camera views we are able to dissect and scrutinize every little detail of a sporting event. The theory behind this precision is a great advancement in sports documentation. An ugly side of this advancement in cinematic technology is the fact that we now live in a world of the 24 hour news cycle with a news and sports media that grows more invasive and speculative with each passing day. An unfortunate byproduct of this saturated sports media is that hours of the reporting are left to speculation and opinion based journalism where aspersions are cast, and presumptuous accusations are made to the athlete’s motivations for their public gaff. In retrospect we scrutinize an indecent act for hours when the circumstance itself happened in the heat of the moment and lasted no longer a minute or two. The fact is the human condition of competition has the capacity to reveal the most beautiful aspects of human capability; and sometimes reveals less desirable facets of human failure. Because sports has become such big business to corporate America we often times lose sight of the fact that athletes are human and that they make mistakes in the heat of the moment. We see this image manufactured by corporations to pedal product or build that athletes brand. But in essence it is just a glossed up façade of “All-American” wholesomeness that is next to impossible for any athlete in the public eye to live up to.

Now this false expectation is something that both male and female athletes have to deal with. But Female Athletes are expected to adhere not only to the societal expectations for athletes, but gender specific expectations which are perpetuated by society’s gender stereotypes as well. After taking women in sport the glaring double standard placed on women is evident; not only female athletes, but women in power as well. The societal expectations for women are filled with a kaleidoscope of mixed messages and oxymorons. We expect female athletes to compete; but “do it like a lady”--To win but “do it with grace” –to be “aggressive” without defeminizing themselves. It is an expectation without a clear message. This gender double standard is a point which Sabrina Williams brought up in context to the media coverage as well as her stern fine. There has been many notorious male players like John Mcenroe who have thrown outright fits on the court and have been seen as a hot head and regarded in an amusing light more so then in a negative one. The media coverage of males in any sport acting in this manner doesn’t even make the 5 o’clock sports center; but when a female acts in a similarly aggressive way its fouter for weeks amongst sports reporting media. The fact that is this minor story received so much play during the busy sports season full of the world series, college and professional football, the start of the pro basketball season is direct interpretation of the crude double standard and the sexist sports media; where the only time you typically hear about female sports in the major headlines is either when a scandal arises or history is made; which is a complete disservice to female sports accomplishment and entertainment value.

Ryan Adams

9:30 tues/thurs

Course: KIN 338I

Section: 3018/3023