Is sport sexist? Article on BBC website

[trevortrevorslattery]

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/29242699

Short answer? Yes, in many many ways.

The link to the article is here: link

I liked that this part was presented as fact rather than opinion:

"But male and female gymnasts share only two common events - the vault and floor (only women perform on the floor to music).
Why? Each event is designed to show off the gender's natural qualities. An opportunity for the flexible and graceful sequined-wearing female to sparkle and the biceps-bulging male to test his strength and power. Peacocking for both sexes, just through different means."

!!!

A very poorly written article I thought. And with little engagement of the brain of whoever wrote it. The lacrosse bit was particularly poor.

I think the men's floor work would benefit from some music actually.

I read an Australian article about two years ago that looked at the time given to female athletes on TV. Female racehorses had significantly more media exposure!

Another little gem for you . When the basketball teams were being flown over for the Olympic Games the mens teams were placed in business class and the women in economy.

Yes it's poorly written. V little thought or analysis.

It seems to me lots of disciplines are designed to showcase strength and speed which are typically male rather than eg flexibility which is female (and arguably endurance). Men tend to get a physical prowess tick and we are lesser but women are often much more flexible but that somehow doesn't count.

Love that quote. So male gymnasts are not flexible and graceful (wrong) and female ones are not strong and powerful (also wrong)? And the purpose of the event is not peacocking, it's not Blind Date in lycra. It is a competitive athletic discipline and an extremely difficult one.

So male gymnasts are not flexible and graceful (wrong) and female ones are not strong and powerful (also wrong)?

Absolutely, there are some male gymnasts I have watched on the rings and the pommel horse, and have marveled at the grace and flexibility they display. Similarly, I have watched female gymnasts vaulting off a spring board and reveled in the power and push they have coming off the spring board and equipment. I am grateful in the sport I am interested in, and have competed in (eventing or horse trials), that women and men compete on absolutely equal terms. Yes, you can 'muscle' a horse around a cross country course, but it is actually so much easier if you can persuade the horse to work in partnership with you. And 500-700kg of horse is a lot to muscle around, whether you are a man or a woman.

I also would extend the question of whether sport is sexist, to sports reporting - watch any news program for a week, and note how often the report includes anything on women in sport. I am expecting the MRA/misogynistic lurkers to spout "But women don't play sports". What utter tosh.

It's bad I know. Sorry for not doing a clickable link - was on my phone and just wanted to get it on here.

The bit about gymnastics was ridiculous. When the commonwealth games were on earlier in the summer I remember wondering why the women prance about to music whilst the men just get on with their athletic display.

JustTheRightBullets I'm interested in your fell-running comment... my running club has lots of members who take part but I haven't yet. I'm planning to get involved next year though.

What did you mean about it being non-sexist? Is it the attitudes of the participants / organisers you were talking about, or something else?

So glad someone's started a thread about this - I had steam coming out of my ears at the sheer ridiculousness of the comments about strength in gymnastics - like the women are feeble little laydeez who just float around being flexible. Argh!!!

My favourite argument is "but not even women are interested in women's sports - they don't go watch it, support it etc"

Yes because when you can't bloody FIND the sports to watch in the first place of COURSE you're not gonna be able to support it. Honestly!

I agree that sport coverage in the media is very sexist, the article on gymnastics was awful.

It's the same at every level too, the other day my sister was asking if I knew any good gymnastics clubs locally as her DC had expressed an interest. I knew of one that a friend's DD goes to so my sis called them, they were happy to accept her DD but recommended her DS joins the football club down the road. They're 4 years old!

And (slightly off topic, but annoyed me) my DH bought the London Olympics Playstation game cheap the other day. We were all (me, DH & DCs) we're playing at the weekend and I got that the vast majority of the sports are men's, with a few token women's events thrown in.

Thanks JustThe .

I've found lots of those attitudes (good ones) in my running club too - hurrah. The men and women even train together and it's a very supportive and encouraging environment whilst remaining competitive.

I'm in the North of England so any races I do will probably be Cheviots / Lakes / Yorkshire Moors or Dales

I am marathon training just now but sick of roads so looking forward to fells next year

"Yes because when you can't bloody FIND the sports to watch in the first place of COURSE you're not gonna be able to support it."

exactly, and this feeds into that thread the other day about having a "passion". women tend to have considerably less time than men to indulge their enthusiasms. far more men than women have the time to seek out and enjoy sports as a spectator, and with the coverage of men's sports it's far easier access. plus a man taking time away from home to indulge that is seen as far more acceptable