How Issues of Inequality with Regard to Gender, Sexuality, and Ethnicity are Contested in Sports - Essay Example

How Issues of Inequality with Regard to Gender, Sexuality and Ethnicity are Reinforced or Contested in Sports Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction There has been debate in the public domain as to whether sexuality and sexual inclination of an individual determines the sporting activity they can peacefully participate in. The gender disparity between men and women in sports especially athlete is enormous. Masculinity has taken order of the day and even the media that is a socialization mechanism has been advocating more for men compared to women. Despite the success of women in different sports, their representation as well as that of bisexuals, lesbians and gays is not very invisible in the sports arena. There has been the fear of overtly talking homophobia and sexuality in sports further leading to the invisibility of the aforementioned groups. Similarly, cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, ethnicity and personal as well as societal values all have an integral role to play in the kind of sports one can engage in. this paper examines how the issues of inequality regarding gender, sexuality and ethnicity are reinforced in sports. Gender Inequality and the Media Mass media has a great role to play especially in the transmission of gender inequality and differences through daily print and non-print media. The society is swamped with magazines, periodicals, newspapers, television programs, online content, and social media advertisements bearing news topics aimed at explaining what it really means to be a man as well as a woman (Chris, 2008). To be specific these messages have been laden with the theme of gender imbalance. The imbalance of gender roles is eminent in the realm of sports. Women have extraordinarily gained recognition and ground in the non-sporting activities, whereas in sports the women part is seen first before the athlete is seen (Chris, 2008). However, the attention that the media gives to sportswomen is very little compared to their male counterparts. The media has subjected the representation of women to invisibility and objectification relative to the men who have had an upper hand in the media. There are equal opportunities that exist for both women and men (Chris, 2008). However, these opportunities are not balanced as such because there are some sporting activities where patriarchal values therein have been associated with men and some with women. For instance, sport women especially athletes have to live a two sided life; one as a woman and the other as an athlete. The media has also changed the representation of women’s sport, through focusing a lot on the sports that are played by men (Griffin, 1998). Even from a tender age men are exposed and encouraged to watch sports by peers, family, school and the larger society (Eng, 2008). On the other hand, women are taught that sports is exclusively for men. In fact the media usually stresses on masculinity as the synonymous theme in the representation through news. Here, the physical appearance, pose, and the written texts that accompany the photographs are usually inclined towards the masculinity giving men an upper hand (Eng, 2008). The media is usually reluctant to cover women athletes, when it does, the women are represented in Eurocentric manner where their two sides must be shown. The women’s underrepresentation and being trivialized is recognizable through the fact that the women themselves as well as their events are least covered. This shows that the media is more male chauvinistic and values men more than women in sports (Chris, 2008). Additionally, only individual sports such as swimming, will have the women being represented. On the contrary, the team based sport events will not be well covered with the media. The media therefore portrays women in sports in a manner that there is reinforcement of gender stereotypes where the women’s role and participation as well is undermined (Chris, 2008). The media has therefore been the main influence channel on gender inequality, the images are perpetuated through making gender differences seen natural and inborn even though they are a construct by the society. As long as the media and the policies exist, there is a looming danger that the gender parity in sports will be eminent. The media has been the main influence on gender inequality, these images are perpetuated by making the gender differences seem natural even though they are not naturally produced in society. Homophobia and Sexuality in Sport Most people often find it hard and uncomfortable to talk about sexuality and homophobia with regards to sports. This has been for a long time and is being influenced by the backgrounds, the societal and personal values, beliefs and fears. Women who are lesbians and bisexual have continuously been omitted and silenced by the conservatives who believe that sports is not for such gender inclined groups. Most women who participate in sports are often viewed as homosexual females and have to keep it cool even though they are being scorned. Gay coaches and sportsmen opt to remain silent as sport activities have been believed to work better only for heterosexual males (Eng, 2008). Lesbian and bisexual women have coached, taught and competed in sports while keeping their sexual orientation to themselves in fear of ambiguity, strident accusation as well as cruel jokes that are negative in nature. Due to the belief that sports make women masculine and that coaches who are lesbians are poor role models, most lesbians and bisexual women only make their contributions from the closet and not overtly (Griffin, 1998). Both women and men sports have been in the forefront to silence homosexuality. This has made the number of professional and collegiate gay athletes to be remarkably low (Griffin, 1998). Even for the gay men, the only option for their social accomplishment is to keep their sexual orientation identity to themselves in a sports world dominated by masculinity and male dominance (Eng, 2008; Griffin, 1998). On the other hand for women who are lesbians and bisexual, homophobia or homonegativity creates a hostile environment for them thus causing their invisibility in sports. Additionally, in most cases homosexuality in both males and females is suppressed so that the hegemonic masculinity is more expressed in sports. Traditionally there are myths that stereotype males and females in sports, women who indulge in sports have been and are still being regarded as lesbians (Griffin, 1998). This stereotyping has discouraged women off the sports arena for the fear of being seen as deviant. These engendered oppression mechanisms have continued to make invisible the presentation of lesbian and the gays in athletics and sports in general (Eng, 2008; Griffin, 1998). The sexuality issues includes gays, lesbians and bisexuals alike and is preferred to be kept silent and even omitted to prevent discrimination. This is because gays participate in a conglomerate of sporting activities where there have been beliefs and myths held by the proponent and propagators of homophobia. Religion, Culture, Ethnicity and Values and Participation in Sports There is an interrelationship between religious beliefs as well as cultural backgrounds and the physical activities that individuals can indulge in freely. Political settings and dimensions also offer a chance for some countries to avoid sport activities that has the political enemies as participants. An ideal example is the Middle East countries, which do not participate whatsoever in sports involving Israel. Additionally, Muslim women have religious beliefs and values that attach meaning to their lives. Although Islam champions for physical activities for both women and men, women are discouraged to participate in some sense in gender mixed environments and sports as well as where the dress code rules are likely to be breached (Jarvie, 1991). These beliefs and values have influenced the participation of such women in sports. The women have therefore been underrepresented on the basis of hijab bans, poverty and religious intolerance (Evelyn, 2002). Most women who are talented end up pursuing other activities other than sports where there is more discrimination (Jarvie, 1991). The manner in which training and the participation is sports is conducted also breaches the religious and cultural beliefs of some individuals (Agnes & Annelies, 2005). The belief that the participation of women in sports and exercise in the public spaces is unacceptable is more inclined towards preserving masculinity as has been the case in capitalistic societies, while at the same time protecting the modesty of women (Jarvie, 1991). While the move greatly achieves its objective, the representation of women on grounds of such patriarchal values that marginalize and trivialize sports women. Based on this precept most elite sportswomen have accepted their lower social status that is brewed by hemogenic ideologies (Agnes & Annelies, 2005). The Middle East based countries that are conservative to culture and religious beliefs have found it hard to integrate in competitive sports that involves mixed gender (Agnes & Annelies, 2005; Jarvie, 1991). On the other hand, some Western countries also shy off sports due to discrimination on their participants based on their religious identity. Still then, women are least represented in decision making in the realm of sports (Evelyn, 2002). The women have a greater role to play in sports, the only hindrance they face is lack of good representation in the boardroom (Evelyn, 2002). This has been the case both at elite and recreational community level sports (Agnes & Annelies, 2005). Most athletes have to remain under the shade of their religious beliefs respectfully and modestly when choosing to participate in sport activities (Agnes & Annelies, 2005). Ethnicity also has a role to play in the kind of sports an individual can participate; the media has an integral part in this representing some races to be super-efficient in some sports (Agnes & Annelies, 2005). However, due to stereotyping, most individuals believe that different races are better in certain activities and are therefore encouraged to participate in them. Conclusion Gender inequality will continue to exist as long as the media exists. However, policy makers and activists can change the current situation by advocating for the rights of every individual as in most constitutions. There are religious, cultural and societal values that limit one from participating in certain activities. A shift from the old ways is necessary so that there is balanced participation. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals should come out of the closets and be open of their sexual orientation so as to allow others who have similar inclination alongside talents in sports, to explore their talents. Lastly, there should be a paradigm shift in the manner in which women are portrayed in sports in a manner that there will be equal representation of both men and women regardless of their sexual orientation. References Agnes, E. & Annelies, K. (2005). Sport, Gender and Ethnicity: Practices. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 34, 257-268. Chris, H. (2008). Social and Cultural Diversity in a Sporting World (Research in the Sociology of Sport). Edition. JAI Press Inc., U.S. Connell, C. (2009). Sports and Homosexuality. Encyclopedia of Gender and Society, Vol. 2, 802-804. Eng, H. (2008). Doing Sexuality in Sport. Journal of Homosexuality, 54(1/2), 103-123. Evelyn, Y (2002). Women get a sporting chance. The Daily Telegraph, Dec 13, 2002, p.15. Griffin, P. (1998). Strong women, deep closets: Lesbians and homophobia in sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Jarvie, G. (1991). Sport, Racism, and Ethnicity. Edited by grant Jarvie. New York: Routledge Falmer. Read More