In the media, their status as a wife, girlfriend or sister of a male athlete is presented as their primary identity. Likewise, successful female athletes’ public perceptions suffer when they are in a relationship with or related to famous men, even if the woman athlete is simply better at what she does. In contrast, the slim and long-legged Sharapova personifies qualities that, for decades if not centuries, have been associated with appropriate femininity Athletes like Williams are depicted as manly for not fitting certain, traditional (and traditionally-white) standards of beauty. Williams is Black and muscular, while Sharapova is white, tall, and blonde. In 2015, Serena Williams, arguably the most dominant tennis player ever, male or female, earned around 10 million less in endorsements than Maria Sharapova. Gender-based discrimination is one thing, racial discrimination––if not institutional racism––is another, even among most recognizable athletes. The person in charge has the ability to allocate funds reserved for female athletes to boys’ or men’s teams, often presuming that is more important to provide male athletes with the benefits of extra funding. Now there is only one, usually a white male. Although empathy and listening skills are the key qualities associated with female coaches, these are not qualities looked for in coaches for reasons that are deeply rooted in social expectations regarding authority figures––as if, in order to inspire, coaches must be authoritative, a traditionally-masculine trait.įurthermore, before Title IX, male and female sports programs had separate athletic directors, usually a man and a woman, respectively. The pay parity at coaching positions made it desirable for men who are considered not good enough to work with men to instead coach girls or women. Before the advancement of Title IX, 93 percent women were coached by women, now that number is 41.5 percent. This applies to high-level positions in sporting organizations, including coaching other athletes, either female or male. While sports in general, both professional and amateur, do a great job in developing such qualities, little effort is put into cultivating them for women and girls outside of the realm of the track, field, or court. And since women are prone to underestimating their abilities––whereas men overestimate theirs––sports allows them to become more confident, as well as learn the importance of teamwork and leadership. This clearly is a shame, as girls who participate in sports have a greater chance of reaching success in their adult lives. Further developments were expected, yet nothing of such stature occurred. A year later, she founded the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 1973, Billie Jean King won the “Battle of the Sexes” over Bobby Riggs. Upon the signing of Title IX in 1972, it seemed that things swiftly would improve for American girls and women in sports. She addresses all kinds of discrimination, from media coverage and racism to selectively-applied pay parity. Joan Steidinger’s book, Stand Up and Shot Out, explores the overlooked consequences of Title IX, focusing on how, almost 40 years later, women still find themselves struggling for recognition and respect. In 1972, when the law was introduced, it was estimated that around 300,000 women and girls actively participated in sporting activities. This was made possible due to Title IX, a federal law that mandated male and female athletes be treated equally and not discriminated on the basis of sex at federally-funded institutions. Judging by pure numbers, women’s participation in organized sports is at an all-time high. Women’s Fight for Equal Pay, Equal Rights, and Equal Opportunities in Sports.Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2020.
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