Sports have historically been viewed as a masculine activity, and consequently, women have been discriminated against in nearly every aspect of American sport. Women are still not allowed to join the MLB, NFL, NBA, MLS, NHL, ATP, or even PGA. Instead, the US has “compromised” by giving women separate leagues to play in. These leagues—WNBA, WPS, and WTA, to name a few—bring in significantly less revenue and maintain far less viewership than their male counterparts.
Seeing as women have not been offered many opportunities at the professional level, I decided to look for progress in lower/younger levels. We all know how important Women’s Basketball and Women’s Volleyball are at USC, so we all know that women can be recognized for their athleticism. Participation by women in popular programs such as these, however, is a relatively new phenomenon. It resulted only recently, after activists spent years fighting for female representation in sports.
One such activist is Laura Pappano. Please watch up to 4:20. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ZEwyEkcgU.
Although many people in America think only men should participate in sports, women in sports are on the rise. Now that the lower levels of sports are putting women in the spotlight more than ever before, women are approaching a great opportunity. One of the most recognizably masculine arenas in the country, professional sports, may have women participants soon, and such a success would greatly change how gender is viewed. There would be a total upset of gender roles, the lines between masculinity and femininity would be even more blurred, and America would be one step closer to true gender equality. I, for one, hope this happens sooner rather than later.
I agree with you that this should happen sooner rather than later. I wonder how we could do a Derridean reading of this, though. I also wonder if "gender equality" is even possible.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ed on the gender equality. It's cool that women finally have their own professional leagues, but there is no way a woman can ever participate in the NFL or the NBA. The male athletes in these leagues are absolute freaks of nature (ex. NFL players on average weigh 250 lbs AND can run the 40 yard dash in 4.6 seconds!). Not to mention there's the factor of being in a locker room with 50 other guys. As much as I am for women's professional sports, sadly women and men can never compete together because biologically men are just much stronger and faster. However, I do agree that women's professional sports deserve more love!
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