I just went to www.SportsIllustrated.com to find more information about women sports. Curious to find out about women's basketball, I clicked on the NBA link at the top of the page. Glancing across the page, I discovered that there was not one bit of information regarding the WNBA or women athletes. I figured that I made a mistake, and I probably should have clicked on the WNBA section, not the NBA section. So I went back a page and looked for the WNBA section. At the top of the page, I can easily navigate to many types of sports and sports organizations: NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, Golf, MMA, Racing, and more. Where was the WNBA or any other women athletic organization? After a few seconds, I found the WNBA link, which was listed discreetly under the option of "other." The WNBA link was somewhat of a task to find it, for I basically had to search for it, it was kind of like finding Waldo.
While the placing of the WNBA link may seem trivial, the Sports Illustrated website really reinforces the notion that women sports is somehow inferior and should be ignored. Never in a million years would the website put the NBA or MLB under the option of "other," but they can put the WNBA in there without hesitation. By hiding the link, the website really makes one feel and think the WNBA and other women athletic organizations are somehow less equal, and that notion should not prevail. The popular website has a lot of power and could really send a powerful message by just placing the WNBA link up there equally alongside the links for men's sports, and they could potentially inspire many women and other individuals to take a closer look at women athletics in general. Inspiring individuals, women especially, to take a closer look at women athletics would be good, right?
Eric Harnden
Kin 338i, Section 6
T/R 2:00-3:15 PM
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Nude Body of Serena Williams
While browsing a message board that I frequent, I clicked upon a thread discussing the new body issue of Sports Illustrated magazine. While not showing any private parts, the nude Serena Williams on the cover will surely captivate the attention of many. The Sports Illustrated body issue attempts to discuss and promote the amazing body that these athletes have come to possess, through their hard work and athletic training. A picture of the magazine cover can be seen here.
The editor-in-chief of the magazine, Gary Belsky contends that the magazine is only focusing on how the body can be "bent and pulled, tortured and broken, inflated and improved and made to excel." However, the immediate reaction on the message board that I went to only focused on one thing, how "hot" and sexy Serena Williams is. Instead of focusing on her athletic form, internet users immediately began sexualizing the cover, and I propose that such a reaction is going to be very common.
What is the purpose of posing for such a cover? Is Serena Williams somehow trying to appease critics that say she might be too masculine? By posing in such a manner, Serena Williams is unfortunately just creating and emphasizing a sexualized view towards women athletes, marginalizing their athletic capabilities. While many people might triumph the cover and contend that is shows off the amazing physique that women can attain, many more will look at the cover and only view it in a sexualized manner. Attempting to masquerade as a triumph of the body, the magazine is only hoping to sell the sexual attractiveness of these athletes.
Eric Harnden
Kin 338i, Section 6
T/R 2:00-3:15 PM
The editor-in-chief of the magazine, Gary Belsky contends that the magazine is only focusing on how the body can be "bent and pulled, tortured and broken, inflated and improved and made to excel." However, the immediate reaction on the message board that I went to only focused on one thing, how "hot" and sexy Serena Williams is. Instead of focusing on her athletic form, internet users immediately began sexualizing the cover, and I propose that such a reaction is going to be very common.
What is the purpose of posing for such a cover? Is Serena Williams somehow trying to appease critics that say she might be too masculine? By posing in such a manner, Serena Williams is unfortunately just creating and emphasizing a sexualized view towards women athletes, marginalizing their athletic capabilities. While many people might triumph the cover and contend that is shows off the amazing physique that women can attain, many more will look at the cover and only view it in a sexualized manner. Attempting to masquerade as a triumph of the body, the magazine is only hoping to sell the sexual attractiveness of these athletes.
Eric Harnden
Kin 338i, Section 6
T/R 2:00-3:15 PM
Georgia Kid Asked to Dress More Manly
http://news.aol.com/article/georgia-schools-says-jonathan-escobar/707800?icid=main|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fgeorgia-schools-says-jonathan-escobar%2F707800
So, this article is really interesting. It doesn't relate to sports, but it relates to the way that people treat homosexuals which is our topic in a week or so. This young man transferred to a new school and after being there for a very short amount of time, was asked to dress more manly. He went to school wearing wigs, make-up, girl's tops, and high heels with his toes painted. I beleive that this is wrong. The school should be able to tall some one that they can come dresses in clothes that a person of the oppposite sex would wear on a normal basis. If a girl was to come to school wearing a baggy shirt, skater shoes, and baggy pants, she wouldn't get asked to dress more like a lady, so why does a guy have to be asked to dress more like a man? I personally wouldn't dress in guys clothing, but it is not fair to punish some one who is expressing their personality becuase I wont do it. These people at this school in Georgia are wrong. In protest of the school telling this boy that he either has to change his clothes into manly clothes or stay home, students are going to wear bright pink shirts all on the same day. I think that we should all wear bright pink shirts on the same day!
Haley West
TTH 9:30-10:45
So, this article is really interesting. It doesn't relate to sports, but it relates to the way that people treat homosexuals which is our topic in a week or so. This young man transferred to a new school and after being there for a very short amount of time, was asked to dress more manly. He went to school wearing wigs, make-up, girl's tops, and high heels with his toes painted. I beleive that this is wrong. The school should be able to tall some one that they can come dresses in clothes that a person of the oppposite sex would wear on a normal basis. If a girl was to come to school wearing a baggy shirt, skater shoes, and baggy pants, she wouldn't get asked to dress more like a lady, so why does a guy have to be asked to dress more like a man? I personally wouldn't dress in guys clothing, but it is not fair to punish some one who is expressing their personality becuase I wont do it. These people at this school in Georgia are wrong. In protest of the school telling this boy that he either has to change his clothes into manly clothes or stay home, students are going to wear bright pink shirts all on the same day. I think that we should all wear bright pink shirts on the same day!
Haley West
TTH 9:30-10:45
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fat Vs Fit
After reading Unbearable Lessons: Contesting Fat Phobia, I was struck with a million memories of my childhood gym classes. The "fat kids" were always scared to change in the locker room or go on the mile run we were required to do each month. We were weighed in front of the class and even I, who had rumors spread about me all through high school that I was anorexic because I was so skinny, was nervous and embarrassed to go in front of the class. Physical Education classes can be extremely dehumanizing and embarassing for people, no matter what your weight or gender.
It is important for P.E. teachers to be sensitive to the fact that not everybody is at the same fitness level; whether they are skinny or fat. I know plenty of overweight people who have more determination and stamina than I and could out run me on the mile, but because I am skinnier I am looked at as being fit. Instead of weekly weigh-ins and 12minute mile requirements, students should be educated on health and ways to improve their exercise routines. P.E. should not be something that students dread, it should be something that benefits their entire lifestyle and encourages them to want to be healthy.
Tayler Koerner
kin 338I.S6
T/Th 930-1045
It is important for P.E. teachers to be sensitive to the fact that not everybody is at the same fitness level; whether they are skinny or fat. I know plenty of overweight people who have more determination and stamina than I and could out run me on the mile, but because I am skinnier I am looked at as being fit. Instead of weekly weigh-ins and 12minute mile requirements, students should be educated on health and ways to improve their exercise routines. P.E. should not be something that students dread, it should be something that benefits their entire lifestyle and encourages them to want to be healthy.
Tayler Koerner
kin 338I.S6
T/Th 930-1045
Sparked Being Moved
When we discussed the relocation of the Sparks playoff games due to scheduling conflicts at Staples Center, I must say that I disagree with the majority class opinion. I do not feel the reason the Sparks are being moved out of the Staples Center to another location has anything to do with the fact that they are a women’s basketball team. I think it has every bit to do with the reality that the Britney Spears concert will make the Staples Center more money than the Sparks playoffs will. Staples Center is a business that seeks profit, and by hosting the Britney Spears concert and the heavyweight title fight, the venue is assured to make more money. It is unfortunate that the Sparks do not feel that they are taken seriously because they are so easily moved from one location to another, but money is the main driving force for these occurrences. Realistically, a larger audience would be more greatly affected if the Britney Spears concert were to change venues.
Kyle Roberts
KIN 388I Sec#1
Tu/Th 9:30-10:45am
Kyle Roberts
KIN 388I Sec#1
Tu/Th 9:30-10:45am
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Successes in Tennis
While trying to find stimulating topics to write about for this blog, I found it extremely difficult to find recent news articles specifically about women in sports on well-known sports websites. The only portrayals of women I came across were cheerleaders and women in bathing suits. The one exception to that is tennis.
The first thing I saw when I visited Yahoo's sports page was Maria Sharapova's face and a headline about her recent win in Tokyo. I think it is great how tennis seems to be consistent in broadcasting both men and women equally. Being someone who doesn't pay attention to sports frequently, I usually seem to know more about the women playing in the U.S Open versus the men who play. That shows how much the mainstream media is willing to broadcast achievements women have made in that sport. However, thinking back to the movie "Dare to Compete" helped me realize that women have been trying to make an impression on sports for decades and so far, tennis seems to be the only one holding mainstream interest. While I am glad that at least one sport has become so popular despite sexes, I would like to see more woman's sports gaining publicity. I hope someday when I open up the sports pages, I see women triumphing in all sports, not just tennis.
Charlene Chang
KIN 338I-01
T & Thr 9:30-10:45 AM
The first thing I saw when I visited Yahoo's sports page was Maria Sharapova's face and a headline about her recent win in Tokyo. I think it is great how tennis seems to be consistent in broadcasting both men and women equally. Being someone who doesn't pay attention to sports frequently, I usually seem to know more about the women playing in the U.S Open versus the men who play. That shows how much the mainstream media is willing to broadcast achievements women have made in that sport. However, thinking back to the movie "Dare to Compete" helped me realize that women have been trying to make an impression on sports for decades and so far, tennis seems to be the only one holding mainstream interest. While I am glad that at least one sport has become so popular despite sexes, I would like to see more woman's sports gaining publicity. I hope someday when I open up the sports pages, I see women triumphing in all sports, not just tennis.
Charlene Chang
KIN 338I-01
T & Thr 9:30-10:45 AM
Friday, October 2, 2009
Athletic Men and Injury
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