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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

BBC Sports Personality of the year - the shortlist

148 replies

NorthernLurker · 27/11/2013 08:03

Announced yesterday - 10 men, 2 women. Now is it me or is that a woefully poor number of women on the shortlist? Last year there were 5. In 2011 there was a fuss about the all male list and a BBC statement said "The current system was introduced in 2006 and at least two women have always previously been shortlisted for the main award" So the system was changed and this year, the second year it's been in operation two women have been shortlisted.....is that the minimum they reckon they can get away with

From memort I think the women's cricket team had a successful ashes too - but no nomination for one of the team there. Who would you want to have see nominated?

OP posts:

posheroo · 30/11/2013 11:08

Andy M will probably win by landslide

posheroo · 30/11/2013 11:09

andy M may win by landslide. We have waited long enough

TiggyD · 30/11/2013 11:35

Murray, Ainslie, Froome for me.

ivykaty44 · 30/11/2013 15:04

I am not keen on froome getting a place on this either, he rides under a british licence because his grandparents were British. He was born in kenya and lived in SA and then moved to Europe and now lives in Monaco - ok so under a technicality he can ride as a british cyclist, I have nothing against the guy and really wanted him to win the Tour - but not the British Broadcasting Company award. Especially when we have sports people who have come to live in this country and adopted it wholeheartedly as their own

merrymouse · 02/12/2013 07:27

Obviously this is an award by a broadcaster, so I can see why it would be important to them to focus on sports that attract high audience figures. However watching sport is far more of a male pass time than a female pass time and popular spectator sports become more popular because they are popular: You can discuss the game the next day, you feel part of a team, you can speculate about transfers and your place in the league. (A bit like the x factor etc.)

Many sports that have relatively high levels of participation just aren't particularly interesting spectator sports, or are expensive to show on TV, or are difficult to understand if you only have a passing interest.

However, isn't sport really more about taking part than watching somebody else do it?

TwelveLeggedWalk · 02/12/2013 23:45

This is a hard one for me. I'm genuinely not fussed about the lack of women represented this year because I think it is SUCH a strong line up that I can't see who I would like to remove/ replace.

AP McCoy's achievement is just phenomenal, but I don't think he'll win. And he has already won once.
Really pleased to see Ainslie nominated. He hugely boosted sailing's coverage during the Games last year, and although the America's Cup got very little air time in this country what he did was incredible. He took a team from 7 or 8 points down in a first to 9 series and, doing a job on the boat he doesn't normally do, galvanised them into winning overall. It was just heart-stopping, pure sporting brilliance. Unfortunately not enough people know/care/understand it.
Murray will win, unless by some freaky coincidence where everyone assumes he's won and doesn't actually vote for him .

snowshepherd · 03/12/2013 13:57

Ainslie shouldn't even be nominated. He didn't call any shots in the race. He was just told what to do. You can't pin that success on him. Its like saying Lewis moody was the reason england won the rugby World Cup.
You could easily nominate the wind or water. Maybe these elements played a role in the Americas cup win.
I think his nomination is a wasted one. I'd rather have seen Phil Taylor nominated

ErrolTheDragon · 03/12/2013 14:09

Perhaps since it's such a chicken and egg thing, it would be better if the BBC had a male and a female award - each with a shortlist of 10, and giving equal airtime to both awards (within the same programs so that people don't just watch the men). I don't really like gendered awards but when the playing field is so far from level, perhaps it is the only way to improve coverage for the talented women?

Sausageeggbacon · 03/12/2013 15:02

For those with Sky Sports looking forward to the Sportswomen of the Year Awards on Thursday. My feelings are split, part of me feels that having separate awards suggests we are unable to compete but it is nice to see that some women are going to get recognised for their abilities and achievements.

TwelveLeggedWalk · 03/12/2013 15:20

"Ainslie shouldn't even be nominated. He didn't call any shots in the race."

I think you and I have slightly different understandings of what being an America's Cup tactician entails

ErrolTheDragon · 03/12/2013 15:34

The award is for Sports personality - so someone who 'galvanised a team' might well be rated ahead of others.

snowshepherd · 03/12/2013 16:03

Personality involves many attributes

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 03/12/2013 16:42

Phil Taylor, as in the darts guy?

I too think you have a different understanding of what he did in that race.

snowshepherd · 03/12/2013 16:54

Yeah, Phil Taylor had a great season. Ainslie was one of 3 or four key roles. He didn't have to read conditions, steer, he was very reliant on a tight team, NZ had some key injuries during the series. If you think he deserves a nomination then I'd disagree. Maybe they could be nominated for team of the year or an overseas award.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 03/12/2013 22:33

It will be Andy Murray. Had a cyclist last year so won't be Froome.

rutters1 · 05/12/2013 20:31

I see Sky are running a Sportswoman of the Year award. Maybe there should be one for men, one for women and one for teams?

Seems unfair that women can be nominated for a universal award and an exclusive award.

snowshepherd · 05/12/2013 22:07

I don't think that is the point. I was annoyed that the community winner attacked society rather than her own religion.
I think a woman's sport award is cool. Otherwise, make all sports mixed. Will there be a woman in the 100m final? Will there be a white dude? It's all about seeing sport for what it is. The only thing that makes sport the winner is competition. I only ever want to see England or spurs give out the drubbing.
The awards have been good though. A lot of great sports people. Real talent

rutters1 · 05/12/2013 22:28

So would you find a Sportsman of the Year Award acceptable?

snowshepherd · 06/12/2013 02:48

Yes

Sausageeggbacon · 06/12/2013 08:24

So how many people watched the Sportswomen awards last night? Remember that programmes like that are only on to attract audiences and if no one watches the format will change. Particularly pleased the netball players got the team award as I was expecting the cricket to get it.

rutters1 · 06/12/2013 09:07

How about a black Sportsman of the Year?

Or white Sportsman of the year?

Either universal or one for each demographic.

ErrolTheDragon · 06/12/2013 09:43

rutters, there's a big difference because at the moment - and for the foreseeable - sport is gendered, and men get far more air time than men. Often the comparison with race is a good yardstick, but not in this case.

Hence my suggestion for two awards which are given equal airtime, within the same program so you don't get the question 'how many people watched the Sportswomen awards last night' (to which mostly it'd be 'the what?' I suspect)

rutters1 · 06/12/2013 13:54

Why not just have one and give it to the best sportsperson?

'sport is gendered' not sure what that means? If it is because .in some cases, the sexes compete separately then that is because men tend to be stronger and faster.

Therefore if a woman gets an award just for doing well at a secondary level then that would be patronising surely.

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