Femaleathletes face pressures that most male athletes do not face when it comes toendorsements and promotional advertisements. Like many women in various careeroutlets, female athletes are plagued by the idea that “sex sells”. When youflip through most magazines, whether they target a male or female demographic,most of the images you find of female athletes portray them in a very hypersexualized manner. The images of female athletes portrayed by most media adssend out a troublesome message to the general public. When young girls seethese ads they get the wrong idea of what it is to be an athlete, specificallya female athlete. When female athletes become sexualized or objectified theylose their athletic identity, more importantly their humanity. It has beenpretty clear throughout time in the world of advertisement and media that sexsells. Because sex makes more money, many female athletes, whether successfulin their craft or not, have jumped onto the “sexy” bandwagon. Female athlete GabrielleReece, a successful American volleyball athlete, has found success and positiverecognition in the world of sports. For four consecutiveyears, Reece was the WBVL kills leader from 1993-1996, she was named theOffensive Player of the Year in 1994-95, and the League blocks leader in 1993. Reecealso competed domestically in the 1999-2000 Olympic Challenge Series, the1999-2000 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. Gabrielle Reece has also found a way to tap into the mainstreamaudience and become a sort of a household name in comparison to othervolleyball players. She has strayed away from sports and has ventured intofashion. The pictures linked show Reece photographed with her husband. The firstpicture is of Reece from a professional photo shoot with her husband. It isclear that Gabrielle is hyper sexualized, her bathing suit is very revealingand her glare is one of seduction. The second link is a personal photo, onethat is not intended to promote or advertise the athlete and shows her in avery casual and happy manner. The difference is very vivid; although the twopictures show Gabrielle and her husband in swimming suits they both delivery avery distinct message. Although female athletes have reached great strides inthe sport world, they still succumb to the unique pressures constructed towardswomen from media.  

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Edgar D.
Kin338I Sec2